Gender Queries

What does accessing gender-affirming chest surgery look like in Atlantic Canada? Is coverage the same for chest feminization and chest masculinization? What barriers do patients face when policies don’t reflect real clinical needs? And beyond the risks, recovery, and logistics, what does it actually feel like to finally see yourself reflected in your body?
Featuring: 
Gabriel Enxuga (he/they) - PrideHealth Navigator
Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee
Aspen (she/her)
Dr. Nadim Joukhadar (he/him)
Pascale Joëlle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_
Amy Prescott (she/xe) - @affirmpt
Gabriel Dit L’individu (he/they) - @youngqueersick
Time stamps:
01:05 - What is top surgery
01:40 - Chest feminization (CF)
02:20 - Newfoundland (NL) CF coverage
03:00 - Nova Scotia (NS) CF coverage
06:05 - New Brunswick (NB) CF coverage
06:44 - Prince Edward Island (PEI) CF coverage
07:25 - Access barriers to CF
08:20 - BMI barriers
09:14 - Chest masculinization (CM)
09:20 - Eligibility factors & considerations
12:25 - Lived experience: discovering top surgery
14:10 - NL CM coverage
14:30 - NS CM coverage
14:50 - NB CM coverage
15:20 - PEI CM coverage
15:45 - Risks
19:05 - Post-op follow-up
20:16 - The role of physiotherapy
22:08 - Rewarding work
23:25 - Trans joy!
Resources:
CQMSA Provincial GAC Guides
Trans Care BC
prideHealth NS
Gender Affirming Care PEI
Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv)
Gabriel Dit L’individu’s LinkTree: linktr.ee/youngqueersick 
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod 
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Aspen), June 2025 (Amy), July 2025 (Nikki, Pascale), Sept 2025 (Gabriel, Dr. Joukhadar), Dec 2025 (Gabriel)

Can trans people access gender-affirming care in rural settings? What happens if they can’t? Do the attitudes of rural providers play a role in the protection of trans rights? The lack of urban anonymity might push a trans person to pack their bags and head for the city. Is there anything we can do to make them feel heard and safe in their small towns?
Featuring: 
Cyrus Campbell (he/they/she)
Pascale Joëlle Fortin-Daigle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_
Dr. Bast (they/them)
Kaiden Dalley (he/him)
Jocelyn Adams (she/her) -  @gacpei
Stevi Gerrior (they/them) - @demandingwedobetter
Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee
Fawn (she/her)
Time stamps:
01:32 - Exposure to the TGD world
04:45 - Lack of rural providers
07:04 - Travel
09:16 - Referral culture
12:23 - Dr. Bast: protection of trans rights
14:34 - Mental health
16:13 - Privacy
19:41 - Supports
21:54 - Advice to providers
24:50 - Relief
Resources:
Stevi’s website: www.dobetterconsulting.ca 
Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv)
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod 
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Fawn), May 2025 (Kaiden), July 2025 (Cyrus, Nikki, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Jocelyn), Dec 2025 (Stevi), Apr 2026 (Dr. Bast)

Does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect the heart? How does a binder change breathing patterns? How do we risk-stratify trans patients? Join us as we take a closer look at how multiple organ systems are influenced by gender-affirming care and the broader health considerations for gender-diverse communities. Just a heads up, we get pretty deep into the medical weeds in this one.
Featuring: 
Dr. Heather Cockwell (she/her)
Meaghan Ray Peters (they/them) - @Chest_binding_support
Dr. Arati Mokashi (she/her)
Ken Mullock (he/him) - @ken.dietitian
Jocelyn Adams (she/her) -  @gacpei
Time stamps:
01:25 - MI risk
03:21 - Estrogen & VTE
04:58 - Testosterone & inflammation
05:38 - Risk calculation
07:19 - EKG changes
08:17 - Smoking
09:08 - Binding & lung function
13:52 - Osteoporosis & fracture risk
16:55 - Bone mineral accrual
18:55 - Vitamin D
19:30 - Diabetes risk & management
21:00 - CBC interpretation
21:40 - Prolactin levels
22:02 - Chronic health & looking forward
Resources: 
Acronyms used in this episode
Meaghan Ray’s LinkTree: linktr.ee/chest_binding_support 
Ken’s nutrition guide for gender-affirming surgery - https://tr.ee/lsreGuebBV 
Gender-Affirming Care PEI - gacpei.ca
The Queer & Trans Health Collective - Health & Nutrition 
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod 
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: Aug 2024 (Dr. Mokashi), Oct 2024 (Dr. Cockwell), Aug 2025 (Meaghan Ray), July 2025 (Ken), Aug 2025 (Jocelyn)

Why doesn’t the average trans or gender-diverse person get enough exercise? Why might gender diversity impact someone’s relationship with food? How do these factors influence health and wellbeing? You’ll hear the challenges and the highlights of trans folks playing sports, the details of nutrition requirements for those taking hormone therapies, and some helpful tips for peri-operative nutrition. 
Featuring: 
Cyrus Campbell (he/they/she)
Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee
Pascale Joëlle Fortin-Daigle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_
Elanor (she/her)
Maeka Wright (they/them) - @mwrightyoga
Justine Ward (they/them) - @cannonballjustine
Ken Mullock (he/him) - @ken.dietitian
Time stamps:
01:19 - Rates of physical activity
02:52 - Guests’ experiences with sports & exercise
13:25 - Mindfulness & wellbeing
16:51 - Monitoring metabolic parameters
17:24 - “Our evidence is in our practice”
18:56 - Disordered eating
22:31 - Poor-quality diets
25:15 - Nutrient requirements on GAHT
27:46 - Metabolic changes on GAHT
30:03 - Counselling patients on diet
31:41 - Pre-/post-op nutrition
34:52 - Impact on health
Resources & more: 
Find Nikki on Twitch (nikki_mv)
Justine's LinkTree: linktr.ee/cannonballjustine 
Maeka (Manual Osteopath/Yoga Therapist) - maekawright.com 
Maeka’s book recommendations: The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga (Jivana Heyman), Skill in Action (Michelle Cassandra Johnson), Yoga (Indu Arora), The New Saints (Lama Rod Owens), The Care We Dream Of (Zena Sharman)
Rainbow Health Ontario’s guide for monitoring feminizing & masculinizing hormones
Ken’s nutrition guide for gender-affirming surgery - https://tr.ee/lsreGuebBV 
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod 
Instagram: @genderqueriespod 
Recording dates: July 2025 (Ken, Cyrus, Nikki, Elanor, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Justine, Maeka)

Provider education plays a critical role in shaping trans and gender-diverse healthcare, but many clinicians receive little to no formal training. In this episode, we explore how gaps in clinical education impact patient care, from unnecessary referrals to patients feeling like they must educate their own providers.
We also unpack how trans health is often treated as optional or siloed in curricula, and why integrating it across all areas of practice matters. Finally, we highlight practical, evidence-based steps for creating more inclusive, affirming, and competent healthcare environments.
Featuring: 
Victoria Brown (she/her)
RJ (he/him)
Amy Prescott (she/xe)- @affirmpt
Xiaoqi Zhu (he/they) 
Gabriel Enxuga (he/they)
Nikki Valentine (she/her) - @nikkimvee 
Aspen (she/her)
Jocelyn Adams (she/her) -  @gacpei
Dr. Sue Atkinson (she/her)
Fawn (she/her)
Pascale Joëlle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_
Mitchell (he/him)
Time stamps:
00:33 - Why provider education matters
01:14 - Student perspectives 
04:24 - Confidence and care deferral
09:24 - Referral culture
10:42 - Advice to providers
14:30 - Patients as educators
16:54 - Healthcare avoidance
18:48 - Checkbox vs meaningful change
21:56 - The hidden curriculum
23:32 - Where trans health “lives” in curriculum
24:43 - Creating safer clinical spaces
28:24 - What the evidence shows
30:16 - Student-led curriculum change
Resources:
Sherbourne Guidelines
Rainbow Health Ontario: Trans Primary Care Guide
Trans Care BC
prideHealth NS
Gender Affirming Care PEI
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod 
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: Apr 2025 (Aspen, Fawn), June 2025 (Amy, Xiaoqi), July 2025 (RJ, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Dr. Atkinson, Jocelyn, Victoria, Mitchell, Nikki), Sept 2025 (Gabriel).

How does the intersection of disability and gender diversity influence one’s experience accessing healthcare? Why is it important for providers to acknowledge this intersection? How does having a disability affect surgical planning? And where does the topic of sex fit into all of this? In addition to the challenges, we also discuss practical steps for providers to make their practice more accessible and affirming.
Featuring:
RJ (he/him)
Rachele Manett (they/she)
Gabriel Dit L’individu (he/they) - @youngqueersick
Dr. Joukhadar (he/him)
Dr. Sarah Fraser (she/her)
Time stamps:
00:56 - Intersectionality
03:33 - Feeling split in two
05:15 - Why is identity relevant?
07:06 - Unmet health needs
09:59 - Access to care
13:01 - Surgical care
21:18 - Medication interactions
24:24 - Neurodiversity
30:00 - Community 
33:17 - Sex & sexuality
41:14 - Conflicting access needs
44:18 - Advocacy
Resources:
Check out the Venus Envy website (venusenvy.ca) and Instagram @venusenvyhfx 
10 Principles of Disability Justice | Sins Invalid 
Gabriel’s LinkTree: linktr.ee/youngqueersick 
Gabriel's recommendations for first-person perspectives and examples of their work: Alice Wong (Year of the Tiger; Disability Visibility), Brené Brown (Daring Greatly), Rupi Kaur, Sonya Renee Taylor (The Body is Not an Apology) 
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod 
Instagram: @genderqueriespod 
Recording dates: Oct 2024 (Rachele), July 2025 (RJ), Sept 2025 (Dr. Fraser, Dr. Joukhadar), Dec 2025 (Gabriel)

Is chestfeeding an option while taking testosterone or after top surgery? How does induced lactation work for transfeminine folks? And what is it like to go through the ups and downs of infant feeding as a trans parent? We get into all things infant feeding with midwives CJ & Coral plus the amazing Laura, Tori, and Forrest!
Featuring:
CJ Blennerhassett (she/they)
Coral Maloney (she/her)
Laura (she/her)
Rev. Tori Mullin (they/them, he/him)
Forrest Sandifer (he/him)
Timestamps:
00:39 - A note on language
1:23 - Physiology of lactation
2:35 - Medications and lactation
3:22 - Rates of chestfeeding among TGD parents
5:00 - Midwifery & infant feeding for TGD parents in Atlantic Canada 
7:30 - Newman-Goldfarb Protocol for Induced Lactation
15:33 - Laura: parent experience with induced lactation
21:13 - Donor milk in Atlantic Canada
25:18 - Rev. Tori Mullin: parent experience with chestfeeding
31:01 - Options if someone does not want to lactate
32:01 - Testosterone, chestfeeding, and dysphoria
33:27 - Binding and chestfeeding
34:30 - Forrest Sandifer: patient experience with chestfeeding
36:10 - Is testosterone safe during pregnancy or chestfeeding?
38:10 - Chestfeeding after top surgery
Resources:
Transcare BC Pregnancy & Infant Feeding
La leche league international as a community resource incl. write-up
Sugarhealth: online source of information for sexual/reproductive health specific to NS
More info specific to pregnancy/lactation and birth is coming
Rainbow health Ontario
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates:  July 2024 (CJ & Coral), Jan 2025 (Forrest), May 2025 (Rev. Tori Mullin), Feb 2026 (Laura)

How many trans & gender-diverse folks are interested in parenthood? How does gender-affirming hormone therapy affect fertility, contraception and family planning? What kinds of fertility preservation options are available? And what is it like to experience pregnancy as a trans person? We talk all things family planning! 
2026 Update from Dr. Cockwell: Technology has progressed since this recording, and AART now offers both ovarian and testicular tissue cryopreservation for folks taking puberty blockers!
Featuring: 
Dr. Heather Cockwell (she/her)
Dr. Elgin Pecjak (he/him)
Forrest Sandifer (he/him) - @groovyshroom
Timestamps:
00:50 - Canada’s history of forced sterilization
01:41 - Ethics of reproductive care access for trans folks
03:09 - Coverage and barriers to fertility care 
06:04 - How many trans people want to parent & what kinds of parenthood are they interested in?
14:53 - How puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy impact fertility + fertility preservation options
27:32 - Pregnancy experiences of trans folks
29:30 - Forrest Sandifer: trans experience of pregnancy, perinatal care, and parenting
37:50 - Contraception for patients on gender-affirming hormone therapy
Resources:
Forrest’s CBC Article
RHO Guidelines that include costs of fertility treatment
Conceivable: book about queer family in Canada 
Queer Conception
Baby Making for Everybody 
Contraception Counseling for Transgender Patients Assigned Female at Birth
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: Oct 2024 (Dr. Cockwell), Jan 2025 (Forrest), July 2025 (Dr. Pecjak)

How is gynecological, breast, and prostate cancer screening different for trans folks? What is it like to navigate the more gendered sides of healthcare as a trans person? And how can healthcare providers improve the experiences of trans patients in gendered spaces? We get into what we do (and don’t) know about gendered healthcare!
Featuring: 
Kaiden Dalley (he/him)
Dr. Sue Atkinson (she/her)
Dr. Nadim Joukhadar (he/him)
Xiaoqi Zhu (he/they)
Pascale Fortin-Diagle (any pronouns) - @Hellogender_ 
James Moriarty (he/him) - @100percenttransfat 
Eleanor (she/her)
Amy Prescott (she/xe) - @affirmpt
Timestamps:
02:50 - Breast cancer
08:53 - Gynecologic cancers
17:54 - James Moriarty: having a gendered cancer as a transman
24:52 - Prostate cancer 
26:00 - Testicular pathologies
27:33 - Eleanor: having an inguinal hernia as a transwoman
29:40 - Pelvic physiotherapy
Resources:
Kaiden's map for gender neutral bathrooms in NFL. 
Sherbourne Guidelines
Amy's Pelvic Physio Linktree: http://linktr.ee/affirmpt  
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: May 2025 (Kaiden), June 2025 (Amy, Xiaoqi), July 2025 (James, Elanor, Pascale), Aug 2025 (Dr. Atkinson), Sept 2025 (Dr. Joukhadar)

What do health outcomes look like for trans & gender-diverse youth? What are the risks and benefits of transitioning for youth? And how can healthcare providers help support families and kids through this process? We talk all things pediatrics with Dr. Arati Mokashi and Elsja Hennessy!
Timestamps:
00:48 - The Cass Review
03:48 - How many TGD youth are out there?
09:16 - Mental & physical health outcomes for TGD youth
13:50 - Social transition
20:01 - Elsja: supporting your child through social transition
32:16 - Puberty suppression
43:36 - Gender-affirming hormone therapy in youth
47:05 - Barriers to care for youth
50:35 - Detransition
Resources:
Science vs Trans Kids’ Healthcare: Are We Getting It Wrong?
Local child and youth mental health clinics
Guidelines for supporting transgender and gender non-conforming students
PFLAG Canada: parent support group
The Youth Project
Trans Lifeline for immediate support
Transcripts at linktr.ee/genderqueriespod
Instagram: @genderqueriespod
Recording dates: Aug/Sept 2024