I have just caught up with a fairly good gender-related podcast that The Guardian put up last week. It is a recording of a panel session from a conference run by the University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies, and it provides a reasonable rundown of the current situation in the UK. There are a few problems with it. No one mentioned the odious Equality Act. Also I got quite annoyed with Judith Halberstam, who seemed to be doing the classic “it’s all about me” tactic of belittling other people’s oppression. She’s right that the real problem is the gender binary, but that doesn’t mean you should brush aside all the problems of trans people.

The think that struck me most, however, was the survey of NHS doctors reported by Ben Thom about half way through the podcast. Of 1000 doctors questioned, 84% said that they disapproved of trans people being treated by the NHS. I haven’t seen the exact question, and it may have focused very specifically on funding for surgery, but even it is did it is likely that most of those doctors will be prejudiced against any trans patients that they have.

Thankfully, I am still getting on OK with my new doctor.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t guessed, don’t read the comments on that post. It will only make you angry and/or depressed.