I just want to emphasize again that collecting socio-demographic data will lead to better health outcomes and how we deliver our services.
Changing the form is not enough, if we don't create a system where people feel safe enough or have enough information to self-identify. I didn't know what the word “transgender” was until I was in my late 20s. I would never have put that on my form when I was 12, because I didn't even know the word existed. My doctor didn't either.
It's not just changing the form. Yes, it's very important for health outcomes, but it's also about training our doctors. It's about training nurses on how to have our conversations, making it a part of our regular, everyday functioning society, because trans and gender non-conforming people are a regular, everyday part of our society, right?
My point is that the effort needs to be holistic. Does that make sense?