The whole country is reeling from the leaked Alito decision indicating that Roe v. Wade may soon be overturned. The death of Roe will likely have long-reaching repercussions for many in the LGBTQ+ community, perhaps trans men most of all.
Trauma for Trans Men
The idea of a culture advocating forced birth is difficult for trans men who may already struggle with possessing a uterus. What will happen if trans men lose access to birth control or elective hysterectomies? Will people lose access to hormone therapy? Will they be excluded from discussions about reproductive health, and how will the loss of Roe impact them?
It is not unreasonable to assume that gender and body dysmorphia will be exacerbated when people are being defined exclusively by whether they possess a uterus. Mental health will decline if trans people are denied hormone therapy and other important gender affirming health care.
Trauma for Trans Men
The erasure of 50 years of precedent will potentially open the floodgates to odious new legislation regarding the right to privacy issues. Trans and LGBTQ+ rights will suffer, and legal protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation may be lost. Job and housing discrimination, adoption, and medical care could all be on the table.
How to Protect Yourself
From a practical perspective, what can you do to protect yourself in the face of an uncertain future?
Stock up on birth control, emergency contraception, or get a more long-lasting form of birth control like an IUD if you and your health care provider think it would be an appropriate choice.
Ensure that you have a support system in place. If therapy isn’t realistic for you, you can still take advantage of the many resources available to the trans community. See OutCare Health’s and GLAAD’s national lists of transgender resources. OutCare Health also has OutReach programming such as trans and nonbinary support groups.
It may be wise to consider taking legal precautions such as getting general power of attorney if you are in a same-sex marriage. If same-sex marriage is attacked next, at least you and your spouse will be able to make financial and medical decisions for each other.
The ACLU is an excellent resource for legal questions and will always have the most current information about your rights. Check our their website to get up-to-date news and resources.
What’s Next
Take steps now to protect yourself and your mental health as we move closer to an uncertain future. It might be a frightening and difficult time, but never forget that there are many people ready and willing to fight for your rights. You are not alone, and you will make it through to the other side.
