By Nadia Marina Rivas Illustration: Florencia Capella Dr. I am writing to you with the utmost respect. On Monday, I went to your office to get the results of my Pap smear. It's worth mentioning that I have been seeing you for at least two years. In other words, as your gynecologist, you had access to my most intimate parts, with all that this implies. When you gave me the results of the test, you told me that if I had sex, I should use a condom. At that moment, I asked you what methods of protection I should use when having sex with a woman, since I was dating one. Your response was:

"What do you mean you're dating a woman? Why?"

I swear, Doctor, I have never felt so horribly exposed and judged. I am a lawyer, a plaintiff in human rights cases—I constantly hear harrowing testimonies and manage to do my job effectively despite the emotional toll. When I came to your office, I had just returned from Colombia, and on my first day of vacation, I had a run-in with the Colombian police because they had beaten a man at the station to "extract information." I had to intervene because of this illegality committed by public officials, despite the fear I might have felt about continuing my vacation in that country after confronting the police officers. Imagine, Doctor, that I am a strong woman. From that perspective, it was difficult for me to understand my inability to respond to you at that moment. However, today I can appreciate your approach. Until now, I hadn't been seen, because I am bisexual, as part of the "LGBTIQ" population, since the latter hadn't considered me a vulnerable group. My answer to your question was: “I also wonder why I like a woman.” Throughout my HPV healing process, I understood that I believe in love, and that's what matters to me. I should have been able to respond to you with that, but I couldn't at that moment when I felt challenged and judged. And, of course, you didn't explain any methods of contraception to me. You decided that the best option was for me to abstain from homosexual relations at that time. "Don't have sex, it's better to avoid contact," you told me. I'm speaking to you as a person, first and foremost. Do you know what complications this can cause for someone who is discovering their sexual orientation? With all due respect, I sincerely hope that no one on that journey ever encounters someone like you in a doctor's office. Now, from a professional standpoint, when I, as a lawyer, am unfamiliar with a topic or it's not within my area of ​​expertise, I refer it to someone else. I tell you the truth, but I don't take cases I can't handle. I may disagree with some of my clients' attitudes, and if that could lead to mistreatment on my part, or negative reactions for them, I'll withdraw from the case, refer them, or simply say I can't handle it. That way, I respect myself and the person in front of me.

Legislation to respect

From this professional perspective, I would also like to mention that there is a vast array of legislation, both internationally and nationally, that recognizes the rights of the LGBTIQ community. For example, at the national level, we have: “the Comprehensive Sex Education Law (Law No. 26,150 of 2006), which mandates the implementation of comprehensive sex education from a perspective of sexual diversity and human rights. It is based on the concept that sex education is a right of children and adolescents. Equal Marriage Law (Law No. 26,618 of 2010), which recognizes the marital union between two people regardless of their gender and/or sex. Mental Health Act (Law No. 26,657, of 2010) which prohibits diagnosis based on sexual orientation or gender identity (art. 3 c). Gender Identity Law (Law No. 26,743, of 2012) which recognizes the right to gender identity, guaranteeing dignified treatment, the rectification of birth certificates and national identity documents without requiring judicial authorization, medical diagnosis, or bodily modification in accordance with self-perceived gender. This law provides for comprehensive access to healthcare for transgender people, incorporating surgical interventions and hormonal treatments into the mandatory medical plan (PMO). (…) the Law on Femicide and Hate Crimes (Law No. 26,791 of 2012), which amends the Article 80 of the Penal Code expressly incorporating as an aggravating circumstance when the homicide is based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or its expression. The Law on Assisted Human Reproduction (Law No. 26,862, of 2013) which determines comprehensive access to medically assisted reproduction techniques and/or procedures for adults without distinction of marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The Reform of the Civil and Commercial Code (Law No. 26,994, of 2015) which adjusted its text to the human rights perspective introduced by international regulations on the matter, and in particular, within the framework of sexual diversity, by the Equal Marriage and Gender Identity laws, incorporating in turn the institution of Procreational Intent as a central element for determining the parentage of children born through Assisted Human Reproduction Techniques. The resolutions of the National Ministry of Health (Resolutions 1507, 1508, and 1509 of 2015) that modify the regulations of the Blood Law (Law 22,990) ensure that donation requirements do not contain discriminatory content, as was previously the case, which prevented blood donation from the LGBTI (gay, bisexual, and transgender) population.[1] Furthermore, the law on “Patients’ Rights in their Relationship with Healthcare Professionals and Institutions” (Law No. 26,529 of November 2009) recognizes a set of rights that must be taken into account. Among others: To be treated with dignity and respect and to receive the necessary health information related to their health.My only expectation in writing this is that you can be a little more empathetic and professional with the person in front of you. You don't know their history or what might cause them to feel disapproving of or criticizing their sexual orientation by a healthcare professional. Furthermore, you cannot simply withhold information about contraception. I will not be taking any legal action because I prefer to express everything I felt and what I expect from a healthcare professional in this much more peaceful and less combative way, with the sole aim of trying to raise your own awareness. Thank you for providing me with my medical records (pursuant to Article 14, Law 26.529). Thank you very much, even though it was only after I had to ask one of your assistants if it was necessary to send you a certified letter, given the requirement you mentioned over the phone that I should request it "formally." Now, if anyone writes to me, I can recommend my new gynecologist. We hugged when she saw the green scarf I was wearing in support of legal abortion.. [1] https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sites/default/files/guia_diversidad.pdf (Available 23/10/2018), pp. 14 and 15.]]>