They denounce that Son Espases treats trans people as sick: "They question their identities"

PalmaThe LGTBI+ association Ben Amics denounces that the Gender Identity Consultation (CDIG) at Son Espases hospital treats trans people as if they are ill, questions their identities, and hides information about access to hormonal treatments. The entity has once again demanded a meeting with the Department of Health, after a month has passed since it requested a meeting with the minister, Natividad Solivellas, without having received any response.

Ben Amics accuses Marga Prohens' Government of neglecting the distress expressed by almost forty people who have shared testimonies about their experience at the clinic. The president of the entity, Tatiana Casado, stated that "Marga Prohens' government does not care that medical staff treat trans people as if they are ill." According to Casado, this lack of response "only shows that they do not care about complying with state and regional regulations."

The association maintains that, for years, the clinic's psychologist has been pathologizing trans lives and deliberately withholding information from the people who come there. Specifically, it denounces that she makes them believe that the only way to access hormone treatment is through the CDIG itself, in addition to questioning their identities.

Ben Amics questions whether the consultation is truly voluntary

One of the main criticisms from the organization is that, even though IB-Salut and the Ministry of Health claim that going through the Gender Identity Consultation is voluntary, in practice trans people must go there in order to be referred to Endocrinology. "They don't say that, de facto, they make trans people go through there to be referred to endocrinology," pointed out Casado.

Given this situation, Ben Amics urges the Government to enforce Law 8/2016 on the rights of LGTBI+ people, and demands a meeting with the Ministry to address the complaints and find a solution. The organization assures that it continues to collect testimonies about the obstacles that trans people encounter when they arrive at the clinic.

Ben Amics also reminds that people who need support or wish to share their experience can contact the association. Furthermore, it insists that no trans person should suffer reprisals for reporting possible situations of transphobia at the clinic and ensures that it will watch over to prevent this from happening.