consequences

Today one of our more politically informed trans clients showed up at the office door, looking downcast. "What's going on?" I asked. "This bill is getting to me," she said, referring to the Big Ugly House bill. "It still has to pass the senate, " I told her, "it's not law yet.". She went to grab a seat in the library, and my Assistant shut the door. She follows politics less closely, but is very attuned to the conversations in this office. "What bill?" she demanded. I took a breath. " You know, the big budget bill that cuts medicaid? It has a national ban on trans coverage under medicaid." She immediately started to cry. She has been preparing for her gender confirming surgery for a while now - she stopped smoking, has been undergoing electrolysis so no hairs wind up where they're not wanted, and struggling to lose the weight the surgeon requires. "I just want to be myself," she sobbed. "This is not the final version." I tried to reassure her, but I am having trouble reassuring myself. When I hear Senators complaining that the bill which contains drastic cuts to safety net programs and will cause millions to lose their health insurance does not cut enough, it's hard to believe there is any hope for this country at all.

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