I'm a transman and I'm tired of transgender awareness and remembrance and coming out days and weeks. They're exhausting emotionally. Can we consolidate them into 1 day? I'm tired of social media and media making us hyper visible only to ignore our actual struggles.

Want to hear our medical struggles? I've been struggling to get my testosterone prescription for 3 weeks. Why? Testosterone is a controlled substance federally and in NY. Automatic refills are not allowed--my physician has to call my testosterone in every single time.

My pharmacy can’t even contact my doctor for a refill. I have to contact his office every single time I need a refill. Then, once a year, my pharmacy tells me that my physician needs to call my insurance to re-authorize this controlled substance so that my insurance helps pay.

So I have to call the office again to tell them my pharmacy needs my doctor to call my insurance. My doctor doesn't get that message directly, even though he sent in the prescription. Then, I have to wait for the insurance to receive the call and do the paperwork to approve it.

Sometimes, like right now, the insurance doesn’t do it even though it's been a week since the 2nd time I contacted my doctor. I called my pharmacy today and I asked if I could just pay out of pocket. I feel horrible without my prescription, and 3 weeks without a dose is too long.

She says "Yes, but it might be expensive". I know I can cover the cost out of pocket-why does my pharmacist discourage it? I ask how much it is, maybe the price went up? "$102". For a 3 month supply, I can do it. I tell her "I can cover it, can you order it?"

She says "Alright" but with judgement in her voice. I'm actually used to this--my pharmacists ALWAYS assume I can't afford my medications out of pocket, even if I tell them I can afford it. Then she says, "Actually, we're out of stock. We'll have to order it."

This has actually happened to me before. I say, "That's fine, when will it get here?" She says, "Tomorrow or Friday." Great, I'll get my medication right in time for the end of Transgender Awareness Week!

The for-profit healthcare system in this country is monstrous & it treats trans people particularly horribly. Celebrate Transgender Awareness Week by working to make the healthcare system better for us. I'm so, so tired. Getting my prescription shouldn't be a part time job.