Walter Bockting, WPATH President, shares his thoughts on transgender people and HIV
Walter Bockting is the President Elect of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health or WPATH for short. WPATH formerly known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, Inc. (HBIGDA) is a professional organization devoted to the understanding and treatment of gender identity disorders. So when I saw an interview for Dr. Bockting I was all ears. He has some interesting points to share both on transgender people and on HIV within our community:
- How large does WPATH estimate the transgender community is? “The entire transgender population is likely to be much larger, perhaps 1 in every 2,000″
- Is the rate of HIV among transgender persons high? “It may be closer to between 2-12% that are HIV-positive, but again that is why the CDC recently agreed to track transgender people better because we’ve got to get a better picture of the prevalence of HIV in this population. “
- Is the rate of alcohol and drug abuse higher in the transgender community than in the general population?
Yes, it is higher among certain subgroups of the transgender population. For some, this is to cope with rejection and anticipated rejection. Others may use substances to overcome inhibitions related to shame and fear about being transgender.
It’s an interesting interview and an important read since WPATH is so influential in the lives of so many transgender persons, whether they know it or not. You may read the full interview at the web site, “The Body” at this link to the interview here.
What an incredible discovery it was to find the WPATH sites avaiable. I am very interested in, and have been for over 30 years in remaining masculine and having SRS. I would like so much to have constact with anyone that can help guide in the directions I need to go. To date I have found only one surgeon anxious to perform the surgery for me but his costs in the US are prohibitive. My greatest desire is to become who I’ve always known I was meant to be and completing my dream has been less then encouraging. When I could easily afford the procedures I ran into the problem of criteria of taking female hormones and living as a female which are both absolutely not an option. I am very happily masculine and when I have to think of being feminine it is just short of revolting in thought. I have considered going to Thailand but feel so much allegegence to the quality of physicians in the US that when I found the doctor in Oregon that was actually anxious to do it I was devestated when he told me of the cost. Having it done within 200 miles of my home would be incredibly convenient and would allow those that I love to be close by.
One of my primary questions is, is it becoming more acceptable for those of us that want to remain masculine and having a vagina. I have found literally many hundreds of men that wish to get vaginas online. I have only connected with 3 that have had the completed surgery, they are extatic with the results. The other question is whether or not anyone has heard of any means for assistance in the costs of the SRS or even being part of trials to help defray some of the costs.
Any assistance would be so greatly appreciated
Jim GIlbert
Hi Jim,
Thank you so much for visiting with us at Beck’s Cafe! You bring up an interesting question and, I’m really stumped to help you here. As a trans-woman, your thoughts that being a woman is “revolting” made me seriously wince and question if your comment was real or spam, but, eventually I realized this was a real comment. Jim, the very fact that you want SRS implies a gender change for as you know SRS stands for sex reassignment surgery (some of us have an issue with calling it that preferring the term Gender Affirmation Surgery or Gender Confirmation Surgery). Its not handed out lightly. SRS requires a significant investment in time and, yes, money. That’s not always doable for alot of us. From looking at the WPATH site you’ll see there are standards of care that need to be worked through prior to being approved for this procedure.
You asked two specific questions
(1) One of my primary questions is, is it becoming more acceptable for those of us that want to remain masculine and having a vagina.
(2) The other question is whether or not anyone has heard of any means for assistance in the costs of the SRS or even being part of trials to help defray some of the costs.
On your both questions I don’t have an answer for you. I don’t know of any men who want a vaginoplasty for purely aesthetic or perhaps other legitimate health reasons. Even if you look under “penile inversion” in Google you don’t really find any listings for the procedure other than for SRS purposes. SRS is an expensive procedure for FtM’s and MtF’s and, outside of having the procedure done for those reasons I’m just not aware of any resources that are available.
I hope you and everyone have a great Pride Weekend there in WA.
Becki
A therapist friend of mine has counseled a client in Illinois who for various reasons needed SRS but did not want to present as female. This individual had some level of gender incongruence which may not be reflective of your situation. He is now postOp. Not sure who did his surgery but I am told he is very happy with the outcome. However, because his testes were removed in the process he now takes a minimal dose of estrogen for bone density and other reasons. As a consequence he as developed some secondary female sex characteristics including small breasts and changes in skin and hair. He masks these and explains them as related to gynecomastia. I can give you a contact off group if you like. I am not aware of anyone providing financial assistance for someone in your situation, especially in the absence of a DSM diagnosis of gender incongruence which would indicate that vaginoplasty is medically required and not a cosmetic procedure.
Molly
Thank you so much for chiming in Molly!