Trans 101: Finding Healthcare That Won't Kill You

Trans 101: Finding Healthcare That Won't Kill You

From Taboo Science by Ashley Hamer Pritchard

December 11, 2025 · 37 min · Season 5 · Episode 5

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges trans individuals face in accessing respectful and competent healthcare.

Here's a wild statistic: nearly a quarter of trans people in the U.S. avoid going to the doctor specifically because they expect to be disrespected. And honestly? They're probably right. In this episode of Taboo Science, we're pulling back the curtain on a healthcare system that requires trans patients to prove they're "really trans," charges thousands of dollars for basic care, and somehow graduates doctors who've never learned how to treat trans bodies. You'll hear from sociologist stef shuster about the folklore of trans medicine that doctors still believe, psychologist Stephanie Budge about the critical difference between over-emphasizing and under-emphasizing gender in treatment, and comedian Max Gross about what it's like to be your own medical educator at every single appointment. This episode is not gonna make you like your insurance company, but I promise there's hope at the end. More from stef shuster: Website: http://stefshuster.com/ Buy their book: https://nyupress.org/9781479899371/trans-medicine/ More from Max Gross: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxgotjokes/ See citations and a transcript here…

People in this episode

Host: Ashley Hamer Pritchard

Guests: stef shuster, Stephanie Budge, Max Gross

Topics covered

  • trans healthcare
  • medical education
  • gender treatment
  • healthcare system
  • trans rights

Keywords

  • trans healthcare
  • doctor discrimination
  • gender identity
  • medical treatment
  • trans rights

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Taboo Science

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