News and Media

Friday 31 March 2023

This International Transgender Day of Visibility we spoke with Dr Rita Yang, who specialises in Gender Affirmation Surgery at Wakefield and Bowen Hospital.

“Through my gender affirmation surgery practice, I have been very privileged to be working with our transgender, non-binary and intersex community. My patients’ gender affirmation journey starts long before they meet me. It begins in their personal relationships, their home, their school, places of worship and their workplace. It is important to remind ourselves that inclusivity, acceptance, respect and support of these people that we marginalise is the most important indicator of a person’s well-being, and of our society as a whole.

Gender surgeries simply help our patients become more bodily congruent with their authentic or experienced gender. Some of my patients call this allowing them to “pass” in society. But to me, I think this empowers my patients, help them to be seen as who they really are, with the wonderful multitude of potentials they offer to the world, beyond them being defined only by their gender status.

I hope we celebrate the achievements of the parents, the neighbours, the teachers, the public servants, the artists, the athletes…. that we uplift every single person who is a member of our transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse society. One of my deepest desires and wishes is that our trans and non-binary youth can grow up without any hesitation of being themselves and thrive with accepting families and communities, free from prejudice, stigma and discrimination.”