Advent Calendar I

 

Yes I am doing it again, this is your Advent Calendar from me, each day we open a door onto my life, my thoughts, my history, or maybe just a Christmas related picture that has taken my fancy.

Mentioning doors made me think of this door, I don't know what lies behind it now but back in 2014 when I wrote about it here, it was the door to the London Gender Identity Clinic. After I was referred to the GIC in 2014 I first passed through that door about one year later in 2015, by December 2018 I had completed all of the medical aspects of my transition, it was just over five years from when I first went to my GP and told him that I thought I might need some help to being discharged from specialist care. During that time I had to go through the process of working out who I am, what I want, and how to deal with it. At no point did I feel rushed, at no point did I feel that I had to convince the clinicians of anything, I always felt that they had my best interests at heart and would only progress at my pace as I came to terms with my new situation. These days I am quite certain that nobody feels rushed as currently the waiting times for a first appointment are in excess of SEVEN YEARS, two years longer than my entire medical process from my first visit to the GP to discharge following surgery.

Back in 2011 when I started this blog Trans People may still have been subject to a few tasteless jokes, but on the whole there was a growing understanding, sympathy and a general desire to help ease our way. Later that year Channel 4 aired their series "My Transexual Summer" this felt like a turning point in attitudes as Trans people themselves started to speak. However just like the GIC waiting time things have got worse, we now have several very vocal well funded anti trans activists groups campaigning to reduce our rights, reduce our access to services and facilities, and to reduce our access to medical treatment.

But today is the first Sunday of Advent! Advent is the time when we look forward to Christmas, and Christmas is the point where everything starts to get better! I believe that what we are going through now is a reaction, a reaction to progress and inclusion in general. Some people have simply found that there is too much progress too quickly for them to come to terms with. Racism, sexism, homophobia are no longer socially acceptable, I think a lot of the transphobia we now experience is truly just a reaction against an inclusive society, I worry that things may get worse before they get better, but I do believe they will get better. Even amongst all the bad news, the legal challenges and the sporting bans, there is always good news, I choose to treasure those and look forward to improvements. 

After Christmas the days start to get longer, we can start looking forward to spring and new growth, because Christ has been born we can start to look forward to Easter Sunday, the risen Christ, and His victory over death and sin. I believe that Christ too will lead the victory over ignorance and hate.