Maxima Rodas describes misgendering and barriers as a trans woman with HIV
Maxima Rodas, a NYTAG program participant, describes being misgendered despite ID changes and clinics not training front desk staff to relay affirming information. She notes overlooked conditions like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, and barriers for immigrants and undocumented people; she supports Intro 949. Cabán thanks her and notes Council Member Gutierrez joined.
Thank you, Chair Amanda C.
Farias, Chair Tiffany Caban, Chair Mercedes Narcis, and members of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity, the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and the Committee on Hospitals for holding this hearing
and providing us the opportunity to testify.
My name is Maxima Rodas.
I use the pronoun she, they, and I'm a program participant on New York Transgender Advocacy, NITAC.
Based on my personal experience with the healthcare system in New York City,
I can say that on numerous occasions, even after deciding to begin my transition and having female listed on all my identification documents, I've been faced situations where I was misgendered.
Staff at many institutions and clinics are still not trained to properly relay affirmative information from the front desk to the healthcare professionals we are seeking care from.
Within the scope of what it is understood and known regarding affirmative care,
There are many other factors involved that are often overlooked, such as diagnosis for diabetes.
cancer, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, heart problems, and skyrocketing numbers of mental health cases, and much more.
Alongside this, many people in our TGNC MB community are immigrants, undocumented, vulnerable,
marginalized, discriminated against, and criminalized.
When it comes to healthcare and public services, they face formidable barriers, including fear and lack of services.
To take my own case as an example, I'm 52 years old,
And I've been living with HIV for over 33 years on ART treatment for the past 16 years, and I have other conditions requiring constant medication, evaluation, and checkups.
While I'm fortunate enough to have a place to live,
Others who lack housing face overwhelming stressful situations and constant strain of contending with a system that often offered no help at all.
It is a system designed to make access difficult.
Or one that is accessible only to privileged few.
I support the passage of Intran 949 because of a major impact it will have on fall
like myself.
I would like to thank the Committee on Women and Gender Equity and the Committee on Mental Health and System Use for the opportunity to testify,
as through these testimonies we are also sharing the experiences of others who may not be present here today, but who do have a voice.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, and we've been joined by Councilmember Gutierrez.
All right, whenever you're ready.