As a practitioner committed to anti-oppression and a transgender man, I believe the mandate for letters to access gender-affirming medical procedures is inherently discriminatory. This policy perpetuates the pathologization of non-cisgender identities, assuming a need for professional validation to legitimize an individual’s gender identity. Such requirements not only reflect but also reinforce systemic biases, disproportionately affecting those at the intersections of oppression and further marginalizing members of the transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary communities.

I am acutely aware of the distress and dysphoria this process can inflict. My approach is centered around honoring the diversity of gender identities, expressions, and experiences. It seeks to de-pathologize the transgender experience, aiming to mitigate the trauma often associated with medical assessments.

In compliance with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care, Version 8, the letters I provide will include only the vital personal information necessary for medical intervention approval. This approach is designed to respect the privacy and autonomy of each individual, while navigating the existing healthcare framework as effectively as possible.