Roger-Luc Chayer
A few years ago, I raised, by a series of articles in these pages, the question of a vagueness on the trans question, especially following the publication of a news about the John Hopkins Hospital Center which decided to suspend sexual reassignment surgeries to better assess the impact and some alternative treatments. I had also published an interview with a trans person, Sasha, who regretted her operation and had no hope of returning to the normal life she had hoped for.
Following these publications, I was accused of transphobic, obviously, because anyone who tried to talk about the subject outside the communitarian parameters was automatically an enemy …
Now, Radio-Canada, under the eminent pen of the journalist Émilie Dubreuil, is coming back to the issue, but in a hitherto untreated angle: « I thought I was transgender ». people who come back on their decision to change sex or who regret it. The question is all the more important because many activists and social groups claim to have access to medicines and surgeries at the age of 8 years. In theory, it is to avoid going through the symptoms of adolescence and puberty, which would be psychologically harmful.
In this absolutely well-researched report that goes around the subject, we talk about several young children who thought they were transgender, while in some cases it was simply to follow a fashion on Instagram or, in other cases because they confused transitude with homosexuality.
« Shortly after openly displaying his trans identity, Franck gets an appointment at a pediatric clinic in Montreal where most of the miners who are experiencing discomfort with their gender in Quebec are headed. Franck is 13 years old. He wants to have the breasts removed and take testosterone. He talks a lot about it. He dreams of it, projects himself. « I watched a lot of videos on YouTube transition and it inspired me. However, when the endocrinologist suggests puberty blockers, hormone inhibitors, he is fearful. The doctor, patient, suggests to him to take his time; he will wait for him. Franck and his parents will return there three times, and each time Franck will procrastinate. »
The case of Clara is also interesting: « I had the impression that I was not a girl, the kind of girl who epilates and who likes makeup. A « girl-girl » like on Instagram, kind! So, I thought I was a guy … When I think about it, it also gave me a sense of belonging. It’s very fun. When you come out, you have full support. The other trans on the Internet say to you: « Bravo, we are with you. I liked that, that side, belonging to a movement, because at school, it’s not so easy to have a sense of belonging. – And today? – I feel better about myself since I became a girl again. The only thing that scares me is having to say it at school. »
People who are experiencing this type of situation or who have uncertainties about their decision to change sex can find advice and support on the « r / detrans » exchange network, a discussion group on the Reddit social network. . Transitude is a constantly evolving issue and it is obviously still too early to draw definitive conclusions.