Blake McLeod is a Cree Trans multidisciplinary artist working and creating in Mohkinstsis, and the powerhouse behind CINIC Studio.
Since January 2022 Blake has been trying to access top surgery and has been met with nothing but barriers. Alberta’s healthcare systematically oppresses and dehumanizes Queer and Trans folks, especially those who do not identify within the gender binary of “male” or “female”.
From being on a consultation wait list for a year and a half only to learn the surgeon they were referred to has earned the nickname “The Butcher of Red Deer”, to being told that if they wanted to consult with a different surgeon they would have to wait another three years for a consult, and another two years for surgery. Five years!
It has come down to choosing between the public healthcare route, which is government funded but comes with that five year wait list, or the private healthcare route where the patient is responsible to pay for everything.
$10,000 is the exact amount that is needed to cover the following:
- consultation with the surgeon
- the surgery
- the chest compression garment
- follow up appointments
As Blake’s partner I have had the privilege of seeing how far Blake will go to support their community, and I know that if they could access this surgery any other way they wouldn’t want a fundraiser centring themself. But it’s time Blake is shown that they are worth fighting for, and that they deserve just as much care and support from their community as they put into it.
Gender-affirming healthcare is lifesaving healthcare. Blake, along with all Queer and Trans folks should not have to fight for their right to healthcare, and yet here we are.