Discrimination Now Has A Face...
As of yet I have only dealt with the occassional odd look, double-take, or family member trying to convince me I am not transgendered.
But now I know what it's like to be singled out and made to feel like a fool for something I can't control.
"Yes, I'm here to fill a prescription please."
I give her my name, my address, and my birthday. She begins to pull up the record and there are only three medications I have been prescribed for anything this year so it should have been a rather easy find.
"Which medications are you getting refilled today?"
"All three of them, please."
I didn't really want to say them out loud, yes it is still embarassing going to get them filled, being on trial.
"Can I please have the names of the prescriptions."
"Prometrium...spironolactone...and estradiol..."
"You are out of refills on Prometrium. It looks like you are out of Estradiol and Spironolactione, also. You are out of prescription refills. Sorry, I can't help you."
Did you REALLY have to say their names out loud for the entire half a dozen pharmacy staff to hear, and all the customers around me?!
"Thank you..."
I get a fair distance from the pharmacy counter and call my endocrinologist.
"Hi, um...I'm one of Erica's patients"
"Oh, ok. Hi. What can I help you with today?"
"Well, I am apparently out of prescriptions and don't see her for another two weeks."
"Oh, well the pharmacy we sent them to should have a fax request form to send to us for a refill voucher. Did they say they sent one?"
"No, they didn't... She was very, very rude to me and I don't think she wanted to help me at all.."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Tell her to send the voucher, are you at the pharmacy now?"
So I walked over and told her exactly what Erica's office had told me.
"Oh, yes...we sent the form."
Yeah, you sound like you did...
"Please route the information over to the Wabasha location. I will have them filled there later."
I had to go to work and after spending an hour screwing around with this location I will never go there again.
After calling the Wabasha location I found out that they hadn't gotten a copy of the faxed voucher back from Erica's office even though they were waiting for it. Sounds like it never got sent.
"I'm sorry it doesn't seem to have been returned to us yet. Would you like me to start the process over from our location instead?"
"Yes, please. I had a horrible, horrible experience at your 46th St. location. I am sure you are well aware of the nature of the medication, being a pharmacist."
"Yes, I know what they are for. But, I am not going to form any biases or discriminate about it, it's not what I do."
"Thank you. I don't think they felt the same way at the other branch."
"Well, I recognize your voice and I know I've helped you a few times. It's really not a big deal. We'll take care of this for you."
"Thank you so much, it's just what I needed today."
"You're welcome!"
Even though she was amazingly helpful it doesn't erase the hurt the other woman paid me. I can't describe the look of disgust in words, it's just not possible. Nor can I explain the feeling of worthlessness she conveyed upon me at that moment.
I hesitate to give the name of the establishment, though. It is obviously the mood of the people at a particular location, not the overall mood of the company. Does she really know how much she hurt me with that little five minute window of her life?
Probably not, and if she did she probably doesn't care...I'm 'just a tranny'...
But now I know what it's like to be singled out and made to feel like a fool for something I can't control.
"Yes, I'm here to fill a prescription please."
I give her my name, my address, and my birthday. She begins to pull up the record and there are only three medications I have been prescribed for anything this year so it should have been a rather easy find.
"Which medications are you getting refilled today?"
"All three of them, please."
I didn't really want to say them out loud, yes it is still embarassing going to get them filled, being on trial.
"Can I please have the names of the prescriptions."
"Prometrium...spironolactone...and estradiol..."
"You are out of refills on Prometrium. It looks like you are out of Estradiol and Spironolactione, also. You are out of prescription refills. Sorry, I can't help you."
Did you REALLY have to say their names out loud for the entire half a dozen pharmacy staff to hear, and all the customers around me?!
"Thank you..."
I get a fair distance from the pharmacy counter and call my endocrinologist.
"Hi, um...I'm one of Erica's patients"
"Oh, ok. Hi. What can I help you with today?"
"Well, I am apparently out of prescriptions and don't see her for another two weeks."
"Oh, well the pharmacy we sent them to should have a fax request form to send to us for a refill voucher. Did they say they sent one?"
"No, they didn't... She was very, very rude to me and I don't think she wanted to help me at all.."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Tell her to send the voucher, are you at the pharmacy now?"
So I walked over and told her exactly what Erica's office had told me.
"Oh, yes...we sent the form."
Yeah, you sound like you did...
"Please route the information over to the Wabasha location. I will have them filled there later."
I had to go to work and after spending an hour screwing around with this location I will never go there again.
After calling the Wabasha location I found out that they hadn't gotten a copy of the faxed voucher back from Erica's office even though they were waiting for it. Sounds like it never got sent.
"I'm sorry it doesn't seem to have been returned to us yet. Would you like me to start the process over from our location instead?"
"Yes, please. I had a horrible, horrible experience at your 46th St. location. I am sure you are well aware of the nature of the medication, being a pharmacist."
"Yes, I know what they are for. But, I am not going to form any biases or discriminate about it, it's not what I do."
"Thank you. I don't think they felt the same way at the other branch."
"Well, I recognize your voice and I know I've helped you a few times. It's really not a big deal. We'll take care of this for you."
"Thank you so much, it's just what I needed today."
"You're welcome!"
Even though she was amazingly helpful it doesn't erase the hurt the other woman paid me. I can't describe the look of disgust in words, it's just not possible. Nor can I explain the feeling of worthlessness she conveyed upon me at that moment.
I hesitate to give the name of the establishment, though. It is obviously the mood of the people at a particular location, not the overall mood of the company. Does she really know how much she hurt me with that little five minute window of her life?
Probably not, and if she did she probably doesn't care...I'm 'just a tranny'...