Trans-friendly Opticians?

[Cassie]

I had my appointment at a small independent optician today. All the staff were kind, friendly and if they spotted I was trans had the courtesy not to mention it.

A good experience.

[hideous_penguin_boy]

Is there a particular reason why we should be looking for special trans-friendly opticians ? Should we not just assume that we are entitled to receive good service in any shop rather than feeling that we need to seek out some specially sensitive one ?

Do we need a list of trans-friendly launderettes now on the off-chance that they might glimpse someone's dirty knickers ? Or trans-friendly kebab shops ? Or trans-friendly greengrocers ?

I can understand needing an understanding laser hair removal person to zap one's scrotal hairs but the idea that we need to identify specialist shops for every continingency to avoid being discriminated against is not helpful in my view. We are building a ghetto for ourselves and creating an expectation of mistreatment.

This reminds me so much of my mother-in-law who seeks out jewish taxi firms because she thinks other taxi drivers might be anti-semitic Dunno what she thinks they'll do to her.

[JENNYJET]

Trans friendly for mtf patients? YES. We are seeking relevent eyewear to suit our gender and future social integration , I count myself as such a person and it has been a struggle finding a provider that actually behaves professionally in this field.

Undoubtedly, ftm patients will have little difficulty as since I was once male, choices are somewhat simple for boys.

[Lairiana]

Is there a particular reason why we should be looking for special trans-friendly opticians ? Should we not just assume that we are entitled to receive good service in any shop rather than feeling that we need to seek out some specially sensitive one ?

No, we shouldn't assume anything. We're talking about humanity here. Yes, a utopian society of constant handholding and merrymaking would be wonderful, but to be honest, I live a couple of miles from Bradford. Yeah, utopia isn't anywhere near.

I'm looking for a trans-friendly optician for my comfort as much as the comfort of the people serving me. If I want women's frames - Which I do - then I don't want any fuss being made over them. I don't even want a "Those are our women's frames" comment. I want to go in, get my eyes done, choose my frames and be done with it.

[JENNYJET]

I went to an independant practice about a month before formal transition began, just after my 3rd stroke in fact because my eyesight was damaged etc., upon the choosing of frames, I asked if I could choose from the 'ladies' selection because some of them caught my eye.. They willingly said yes as if it was not an unusul request and I chose with huge confidence and no discomfort came from either of us. Really, how many girls do you see wearing very msculline frames? I see loads and there is no fuss and I see many men wearing dinky petite frames also so I imagine that the market asks no questions.

My optician on that occasion was a sole trader, trying to get established and he was wonderful. No national chain has managed to make me comfortable since.