Dear all, 

Here is a sad story from Norway that I would like to share with you (unfortunately the article is in Norwegian):

A 20-year old transwoman from Trondheim, Norway has cut off her testicles at home in her bathroom after being refused treatment by the Oslo gender clinic - the only clinic in Norway which provides treatment for trans people in the country. The Oslo gender clinic in a response denied any wrongdoing, and refused to discuss individual cases. 

This is only one of many stories that I have heard from trans people in Norway who have been denied treatment by the Oslo gender clinic. Those with enough money or other resources have sought treatment elsewhere in the world, but I have also heard many stories of despair by people who feel that they have nowhere to go. This incident is just one sign of a much larger problem, a problem that the Norwegian gender clinic has repeatedly denied that it exists in the first place. While talking to trans activists in Oslo during the recent WPATH conference, I was struck by the many stories and feelings of despair and hopelessness and disempowerment. Therefore it doesn't surprise me to read this sad story, and I am just happy that the girl lives, and apparently fares better without her testicles. 

It is time that these practices that lead to sad stories like this one stop. The Oslo gender clinic has to stop exploiting their monopoly in Norway at the expense of trans people, and have to give every person who seeks out their help an acceptable and timely path to the kind of services they need. It is also time for a thorough external investigation of the practices of the Oslo gender clinic, especially exclusions from the program. 

Full story: '20-åring skar av sine egne testikler'

http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/trondheim/article1353338.ece

Response by gender team: '– Vanlig med tilleggsproblematikk'