Fionne Orlander has had genital surgery

[Pluvia]

On the NHS at an expensive London clinic.

twitter.com/FionneOrlander/status/1534471741531115520

I've appreciated and followed him on Twitter for years and know how bad the dysphoria is and yet my heart sinks that even someone as thoughtful and articulate as him thinks that this will solve anything.

Oh, Fionne.

He was trying to fundraise for this a while ago, maybe pre-lockdown? I hope it works for him, I hope he finds peace with his body and that eases his distress, I really do hope that for him.

Despite which, I'm sad to read this.

Years agi I pm’ed a transwoman who posted regularly, the regulars will probably know who i mean

i was very worried about a young trans person that i knew

i asked was she happy following the genital operation, did it ‘work’ and help with the dysphoria and apparently it did, she was much happier

i think that for a small minority of people surgery can make them feel better, i stress the ‘small minority’ bit

i hope it works for Fionne

Sending my best wishes to Fionne for a swift recovery. Not on Twitter, or I'd send directly! Hope he's healing up and glad he found a friendly squirrel for company.

Fionne's been a good ally to women and children and I wish her well.

I agree with every word you said. I appreciate that Fionne doesn't go in for the "glitter and unicorns" style of talking about GRS or gender dysphoria in general. I wish them well

I'm not sure how "informed" you can ever be about this sort of life-changing thing, but Fionne is going to have to have gone into it as clear-headed as anyone ever could, I think.

And as an adult, if people want to perform not-totally-impairing body modifications, and are informed of the risks as best we can, then I don't think we can deny them, even if we don't pay for them. (Although I think I might have actually donated to Fionne for this a while back - I don't recall if I did or not).

But the problem is that many people seeming to head into this do not seem to be as clear-headed as Fionne, and are not having hard truths put to them sufficiently. Particularly children.

We might permit all sorts of adult things, but we don't have to be promoting them in schools and putting children on a path to them - smoking, tattoos, breast implants, and certainly genital reconstruction.

Anyway, good luck, Fionne.

Best wishes for healing and recovery, Fionne.

Rufus I know of whom you speak, in fact I thought of her but recently. That was kind, to reassure you about your young trans person's plan(s).

GRS is a recognised treatment. I wouldn’t begrudge any adult who’d been through the hoops there must be to get this treatment on the NHS. Of course I’d rather no one needed the surgery (or any surgery I suppose) but I very much hope for a successful outcome for Fionne.

Yes it really was flibberty

i did say for her not to reply to my question if it was too intrusive but she did

I know a few people for whom this has brought enormous peace and mental wellbeing, and I hope it works that way for Fionne.

Adding my best wishes, in case Fionne sees them. I do hope he finds peace.

I've appreciated and followed him on Twitter for years and know how bad the dysphoria is and yet my heart sinks that even someone as thoughtful and articulate as him thinks that this will solve anything.

I have a trans family member. She does seem much happier after many years of passing and surgery.

I wish the same could have been achieved with her accepting herself as a gay man but I'm pleased she's found happiness after a very difficult childhood. That is not remotely the same as wanting trans elimination no matter how much Owen Jones thinks it is.

Fionne has made her choice and we should respect that. I think we need to be careful that are criticism of the way transition often works is structural, not personalised.

Wishing you well Fionne. X

This was done on the NHS. Funding was for facial feminisation and remains untouched, waiting.

I am of mixed mind on that but wish Fionne well, hopefully it will be what she wants and will make a real difference in the long term.

Didn't JKR promise Fionne and some others on Twitter some drinks, post-Covid?

Ah, yes, here it is:

twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1266860609934700544

I think Fionne probably deserves it by now! If Fionne's too polite to remind JKR, maybe someone else can give her a prod.

(Or has this already taken place, on the quiet?)

PeterPomegranate · Today 11:50
GRS is a recognised treatment. I wouldn’t begrudge any adult who’d been through the hoops there must be to get this treatment on the NHS. Of course I’d rather no one needed the surgery (or any surgery I suppose) but I very much hope for a successful outcome for Fionne.

I'm not sure the issue is whether it is recognised or not, it is whether the people who recognise it as a treatment are recognising it based on good quality science, or on "feels" and sticking their fingers in their ears when anyone mentions chemical castration or detransitioners.

why on earth are you sad? these are not your feelings to own

be sad about things in your own life that you can control and change this has nothing to do with you and its a choice for that person . lets hope it makes tehm feel better about their body

I'm feeling sad at reading Fionne's tweet. It's my feeling. Don't start telling me what I'm allowed to feel.

Thank you: you've put the meat on the bones of my sadness.

Imagine not feeling sad if someone had had themselves blinded or had their healthy legs amputated (both BIID issues currently being debated on another thread) because of something going on in their head.

FFS.

why on earth are you sad? these are not your feelings to own

yes they are…of course they are

if you feel sad then thats your feeling!

I am sad because I know the complication rate for this type of surgery is very high, the satisfaction levels are initially fantastic but do not last and recovery is often complicated because the maintenance of the procedure is painful, time consuming and life long. SRS can be a burden as well as a solution.

I don't know Fionne, but he seems like a really lovely person and it makes me sad that he felt he had no other option to manage his dysphoria. Gender dysphoria symptoms are horrible to live with, so that makes me sad - and the surgical recovery is also horrible, so that makes me sad - and those who have poor outcomes are left with a horrible situation, so that makes me sad.

I am not a person who dictates how others should feel but I am aware of my own emotional reaction to others' situations.

Some people are empathetic. Deal with it.

Because some people, when seeing another person in distress and suffering, feel a sense of sadness. This is what we call 'empathy'.