Smile And Nod

My second appointment with Dr Kennedy was a little while ago this morning. While sitting in the waiting room (the appointments were running late), another transwoman who was also waiting asked if I'd seen Dr Kennedy before, and what I thought of her. I gave a non-committal response, aware that there probably are strong opinions floating around concerning the director of the Monash gender clinic. But just before I was called into my appointment, the other patient expressed how unimpressed she was with Dr Kennedy.

I have to say I agree. Yes, she's helped many a transperson through transition, and has some very specialised qualifications in matters of gender psychology and GID, but my overall impression of Dr Kennedy is... well, let's just say I view her as a strategic enabler.

She appears to place a very strong emphasis on matters of passing, and although that is important, I would have expected someone in her role to be more mindful that people - particularly those who have lived their lives with gender dysphoria - need to move at their own individual pace. Instead, my experience has been that she seems to like to pressure the patient in the direction of stealth and complete passing. My own feeling at this stage, for example, is that when I go full time, it doesn't matter too much to me that I won't be completely passable. I'll have only had a few months of HRT, and the people who'll be around me from day to day will all know the score anyway. In that light, it's worrying that Dr Kennedy should bring up tracheal shave surgery as a matter of priority (I'm going to get this done soon, but fail to see the rush), and even begin mentioning medical insurance for SRS so soon (I sorted out some private healthcare a few months back, but SRS is way off my mind right now).

It makes me think of the reticence I had about the Monash clinic to begin with, and of some of the things that have been said in the media regarding the clinic and its operation. Dr Kennedy's obviously advanced age doesn't lend assistance to her public image either.

Still, the situation doesn't bother me much as I think her relevance to my transition is ultimately quite superficial, beyond providing the administrative necessities such as referrals and signatures. My psychological and physical health are being looked after by other specialists whom I respect, and when all is said and done, I'll continue in the fashion that has brought me to this point and proceed at my own pace.

Just smile and nod like a good little tranny.