Before starting to write this story I spoke at length with Artemisia, 20, curly brown hair “that must grow”, big and dark eyes. It’s been called that for two years, ever since she realized she was one transsexual girl. “Can they also see this article in France?” he asks me on the phone. I answer yes and ask why she asks me this question. “Because my father is in France.” “If you want, can we publish it anonymously? So you won’t have any problems », I repeat.
«No, I decided to stop hiding “. On the occasion of the International day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, which occurs on May 17, we tell you its story.
Artemisia has returned to live at home with her mother for some time, near Rome. “As soon as I turned 18 I left because I could no longer hide from my father. He was a master father, sometimes violent, and I was afraid. Everyone in the family knew about my homosexuality: my mother, my brothers and for them it was never a problem. For my father, yes. He is a Muslim, with a rigid mentality, certainly not open to LGBTQ + issues ».
Artemisia speaks in a low, calm tone of voice, she explains to me that she has not yet begun to follow the path that will teach her how to modulate her voice and as she tells herself she tells me that she has always felt more feminine than her friends. “At school I was more often with girls, I did all those things that are thought to be girls. But I was a boy ».
When she couldn’t take it anymore, Artemisia came out telling her mother that she was homosexual. “To tell the truth, my sister told her because I didn’t have the courage, and when I left my room we started crying and hugging. She was worried above all about the difficulties I would encounter in life, as well as in the family ».
From that moment Artemisia started looking for information through the Gay Center and the Gay Help Line (800 713 713). «So I came to Refuge (Refuge Lgbt family home, managed by the Gay Center and the Red Cross. The first temporary shelter for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people who are victims of abuse in the family, ed), the shelter where I was immediately helped. Before leaving, I left a letter explaining to my father that I wanted to seek my fortune. I was hoping that she wouldn’t take it out on my mother and my brothers. He started looking for me, he sent me messages where he wrote me that with my behavior I was making others talk, that I had to go home ».
But that door, Artemisia only reopened it when he was as far away as possible. A few weeks ago. In the time that has been in between, Artemisia has documented herself, met doctors and psychologists. It is told and discovered. And finally, one winter evening, sitting on a park bench next to her sister, she chose to change her name: Artemisia.
«Now I am following a path at the SAIFIP in Rome (Clinical intervention and research center on Gender Dysphoria of the San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, ed). It is a gradual process: first we do cognitive interviews that allow you to orient yourself, even understand the costs, then we move on to blood and hormone tests, the psychological test that serves to identify the presence of gender dysphoria and finally hormone therapy . After a year of hormonal treatment you can start the procedure for the change of documents and any surgical interventions “.
The latest data collected by Gay Help Line report more than 20 thousand contacts a year. Requests for help that come mostly from very young people, with an age between 13 and 27 years. One in two young people have problems and the percentage rises to 70% for transsexual people.
“There are streets and places that I never walk in the evening because I know they are dangerous for me. I experience homotransphobia every day, when I feel the eyes of many people on me, when I hear the comments aloud, when I hear the footsteps of those who want to scare me and maybe follow me. Once they spat in my face. It is not easily forgotten ». This is why Artemisia, who dreams of becoming an educator, has chosen to tell her story. “Only in this way can we change.”
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
