Monika: And how did the people around you react to your coming out?
Tanja: Unfortunately, from one parent’s side, the cousins do not want to have any kind of contact with me anymore. Noteworthy is that when I came out, it was very easy in the office, which was all female, but at the garage it was not so easy, especially with workers with a Baltic or Russian background, though my position as their boss was of course a benefit for me. Otherwise, the welcome has been very positive practically everywhere, much more than I thought. Although some friends warned me against becoming a public figure, it was the best decision of my life. That is what I want to say to encourage anyone who is still in the closet: come out, and it will be the best decision of your life.
Monika: Are you happy with how HRT has worked for you?
Tanja: No, not completely, personally speaking, but on the general level the hormone treatment seems to work. One thing that is currently under discussion is the amount of cyproterone given to patients. The European Medicines Agency has limited its recommendation, due to the meningioma risk, to a maximum of 10 mg per day, but at least in Finland we transgender women still get 25 mg per day until 3 weeks prior to genital reassignment surgeries, be it either orchiectomy or vaginoplasty.
Monika: Is the Finnish health service prepared to provide services to the trans community? Are GRS and FFS available to those who wish to undergo them?
Tanja: In our current system, after one to two years since you enter the Transgender polyclinic services at either Helsinki or Tampere University Hospital (the only authorized transgender treatment units), you can get your diagnosis. During the first year, you have to undergo different psychiatric tests. After that, the ICD 64.0 diagnosis will be established, and then there is a one-year real-life test, including hormone treatment, during which you are required to live according to the new gender, but with the legal gender still being the old one. That is, as such, a human rights violation.
Monika: What happens once that period is over?
Tanja: After the period, the Chief Surgeon of the Transgender polyclinic will give a referral to such surgeries as the Chief Surgeon considers you need. Those can be breast augmentation (only at Tampere hospital) for transfemales, breast removal for transmales, and thyroid planing, phoniatry, orchiectomy, penectomy, and vaginoplasty for transfeminines, as well as others that might also be considered for transmales.
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| Miss Gay Finland 2019. |
Monika: What does it cost the patient, and how long is the wait?
Tanja: The patient pays an own-risk part of about 90 euros per hospital day, a bit more if overnight service is required. The vaginoplasty requires at least seven days and is done with the penile infusion technique, and only at Helsinki hospital, where you have to queue for 12-24 months to undergo it.
Monika: Changing gears, what is your view on transgender beauty pageants?
Tanja: Of course, everyone has the right to participate in any events they want. I was myself the second runner-up in Miss Gay Finland 2019. It is not a beauty contest in itself, but rather an occasion to choose an ambassador for the Pride of Finland. Still, the fact is that looks are also important there, especially in the case of Mr. Gay, which is held simultaneously.
Monika: Many transgender women put their stories into memoirs. Have you ever thought about writing a book of your own?
Tanja: Actually, yes, although many newspapers, radio, and television outlets have already published a lot about me, like this blog, or a common Sunday supplement for eleven provincial newspapers in Finland, reaching some million readers. But I hope I can do it one day and tell all kinds of secrets there!
Monika: What would you say to trans women who are struggling with gender dysphoria?
Tanja: Be yourself, believe in yourself, and try to convince yourself that the surrounding society is not as evil as you think. I would like to say, be brave, but it might be too hard a request, though I wish we all could be like that. And believe in the future even if it doesn’t always look so sunny.
Monika: Tanja, thank you very much for sharing your story.
END OF PART 2
All photos: courtesy of Tanja von Knorring.
© 2020 - Monika Kowalska
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