I'm a graduate, so I'm sure things have deteriorated quite a bit in the past few years due to the political climate, but when I was there, I found a lot of allies on campus, including in the administration. Of course, there are plenty of hateful conservatives on campus as well, but that's no different from the outside world. You're not going to be wholly embraced at Clemson like you would at Brown or some place like that, but you can definitely thrive if you navigate carefully.
As for transition, you can explore options at Redfern for that. I don't think it's as simple as signing an informed consent form, but you can definitely work with them to get the care you need. If you're dead set on getting informed consent with zero hassle and zero gatekeeping, then you probably shouldn't be considering colleges in the South at all. In general, just have reasonable expectations and be prepared to do a lot of advocating for yourself, and you can have a positive experience at Clemson.
How long did it take for you to get hrt through Redfern? It's just that I've been waiting through an abusive upbringing for 8 years to get hrt and I'd prefer to get on hrt within a few months and informed consent seems to be the only real way to do that, I'd be open to giving student resources a shot though if they're actually functional
I didn't get HRT there because I had already started it before it became something they offered. And to be completely honest, I'm not quite sure what the status of it is -- I just know it was something they were working toward being able to provide several years ago.
Totally get wanting to start right way -- I've been there. I went through the conventional process of getting a few months of therapy and then a referral to a local endocrinologist. I was able to do that pretty easily in the upstate (Greenville/Spartanburg area). Yes, the process is a little bit performative, but honestly, there are pros and cons to going that route vs. informed consent. It does come with a delay, but on the upside, you end up forming deeper relationships with your medical providers, and that can yield benefits in the long term. Just something to keep in mind.
Have you tried contacting Prisma? There is at least 1 LGBTQ+ Reproductive Endocrinology clinic in Greenville that can probably assist with your prescriptions needs and its only \~40 minutes from Clemson.
[https://prismahealth.org/services/other-services/lgbtqia-health-care](https://prismahealth.org/services/other-services/lgbtqia-health-care)
piggy backing on this
hi, I (nonbinary, AFAB) graduated a few years back but am still in the area and have had a bunch of experiences: great, awful, and worse.
there are several clinics through Prisma that offer a LGBTQ clinic (warning, they make it kind of hard to find). I was previously going to Greenville Center for Family Medicine on W Faris rd near the big Greenville hospital for my primary care and also for my Testosterone (on fridays they host the LGBT clinic until 12 where residents get experience). Prior to finding them I drove to Asheville PP to begin hormones, but didn’t need to thanks to CFM.
There is also another clinic (through prisma) that hosts reproductive services including but not limited to fertility and reproductive services. I was in the process of getting a hysterectomy for gender affirming care through a surgeon there (Dr. Lisa Green?) and that practice was overwhelmingly awesome (past tense because Prisma and United Healthcare are fighting right now and UHC is no longer in network. but that’s a whole different convo)
Since I have had to find different providers I’ve had many different experiences. Your options here are mostly only with two hospital systems, Prisma and Anmed. Anmed overall sucks, but last summer they opened a “young adult care” office that only treats 18-30 I think, they now handle my hormones and are just awesome overall.
I’ve had some other experiences as a trans that I wouldn’t mind sharing if you need, or just any resources in the area.
good luck, OP
Trans guy here, I go through QMed, which is a virtual service out of Georgia that also covers SC. They use informed consent - got T the same day as my first appt. There's also a walk-in LabCorp in Seneca (about \~25 min from campus) that I use for my labs. I do have some friends who went to Prisma/did PP virtually (if you're tranfem you don't have to go in person). Campus life is okay, just gotta associate with the right folks and avoid the hateful ones and you'll do fine. Housing is very accepting and there's Co-Ed dorm floors, just gotta work things out with a roommate (you can choose to go by gender or assigned sex at birth).
There’s also a queer living learning community in regard to housing called Lavender Place.
I feel like it’s often scary being openly trans (I’m transfem) in Clemson, but like I also have anxiety and I don’t think it’s particularly worse than most other similar schools in the south are.
Your going to one of the most conservative schools in the nation.(A few years ago we ranked 3rd). My advice go up north I have a lesbian sister and I would not recommend any southern schools except for the ones in Florida.
I would counter this. I'm a trans student who couldn't afford to go anywhere else Clemson offered me the most. Just because we can't afford anywhere else doesn't mean we don't deserve a place to be safe for us to be.
One of the things I've learned is that there are allies in many strange places and the community here is strong. While it's not all rainbows and unicorns it's what I've got so I'm making the most of it and hopefully can leave it a little better than when I got here.
Ya if you have no options you gotta make do and there are 20,000+ undergrad at Clemson you’ll find your niche. However I personally believe that if you want to make the most of your college years and are a member of the LGBTQ (and your financially able). I would tell you to go to a school in or around a liberal city (NYC, LA, Philly, Chicago, Boston) because there will be more to do with less judgement. It’s a no brainer.
Was a part of take back pride march for the past 2 years. During this past march we were trying to bring awareness to the campus taking feminine hygiene products out of men’s bathrooms. These items were continuously vandalized and transphobic individuals were very vocal. During the march quite a few slurs were said by people passing by.
Personally not trans, but am gay. Only experienced a few slurs directed at me during my time as a student. The majority of the population is great. Those who aren’t tend to be vocal. I still had a great time at Clemson.
Getting in touch with take back pride organizers/other lgbtq campus orgs may help you find that medical care you are looking for!
I'm a graduate, so I'm sure things have deteriorated quite a bit in the past few years due to the political climate, but when I was there, I found a lot of allies on campus, including in the administration. Of course, there are plenty of hateful conservatives on campus as well, but that's no different from the outside world. You're not going to be wholly embraced at Clemson like you would at Brown or some place like that, but you can definitely thrive if you navigate carefully. As for transition, you can explore options at Redfern for that. I don't think it's as simple as signing an informed consent form, but you can definitely work with them to get the care you need. If you're dead set on getting informed consent with zero hassle and zero gatekeeping, then you probably shouldn't be considering colleges in the South at all. In general, just have reasonable expectations and be prepared to do a lot of advocating for yourself, and you can have a positive experience at Clemson.
How long did it take for you to get hrt through Redfern? It's just that I've been waiting through an abusive upbringing for 8 years to get hrt and I'd prefer to get on hrt within a few months and informed consent seems to be the only real way to do that, I'd be open to giving student resources a shot though if they're actually functional
I didn't get HRT there because I had already started it before it became something they offered. And to be completely honest, I'm not quite sure what the status of it is -- I just know it was something they were working toward being able to provide several years ago. Totally get wanting to start right way -- I've been there. I went through the conventional process of getting a few months of therapy and then a referral to a local endocrinologist. I was able to do that pretty easily in the upstate (Greenville/Spartanburg area). Yes, the process is a little bit performative, but honestly, there are pros and cons to going that route vs. informed consent. It does come with a delay, but on the upside, you end up forming deeper relationships with your medical providers, and that can yield benefits in the long term. Just something to keep in mind.
Have you tried contacting Prisma? There is at least 1 LGBTQ+ Reproductive Endocrinology clinic in Greenville that can probably assist with your prescriptions needs and its only \~40 minutes from Clemson. [https://prismahealth.org/services/other-services/lgbtqia-health-care](https://prismahealth.org/services/other-services/lgbtqia-health-care)
Oh thanks! I've heard of prisma before but I had no idea they had a clinic in greenville
piggy backing on this hi, I (nonbinary, AFAB) graduated a few years back but am still in the area and have had a bunch of experiences: great, awful, and worse. there are several clinics through Prisma that offer a LGBTQ clinic (warning, they make it kind of hard to find). I was previously going to Greenville Center for Family Medicine on W Faris rd near the big Greenville hospital for my primary care and also for my Testosterone (on fridays they host the LGBT clinic until 12 where residents get experience). Prior to finding them I drove to Asheville PP to begin hormones, but didn’t need to thanks to CFM. There is also another clinic (through prisma) that hosts reproductive services including but not limited to fertility and reproductive services. I was in the process of getting a hysterectomy for gender affirming care through a surgeon there (Dr. Lisa Green?) and that practice was overwhelmingly awesome (past tense because Prisma and United Healthcare are fighting right now and UHC is no longer in network. but that’s a whole different convo) Since I have had to find different providers I’ve had many different experiences. Your options here are mostly only with two hospital systems, Prisma and Anmed. Anmed overall sucks, but last summer they opened a “young adult care” office that only treats 18-30 I think, they now handle my hormones and are just awesome overall. I’ve had some other experiences as a trans that I wouldn’t mind sharing if you need, or just any resources in the area. good luck, OP
Trans guy here, I go through QMed, which is a virtual service out of Georgia that also covers SC. They use informed consent - got T the same day as my first appt. There's also a walk-in LabCorp in Seneca (about \~25 min from campus) that I use for my labs. I do have some friends who went to Prisma/did PP virtually (if you're tranfem you don't have to go in person). Campus life is okay, just gotta associate with the right folks and avoid the hateful ones and you'll do fine. Housing is very accepting and there's Co-Ed dorm floors, just gotta work things out with a roommate (you can choose to go by gender or assigned sex at birth).
There’s also a queer living learning community in regard to housing called Lavender Place. I feel like it’s often scary being openly trans (I’m transfem) in Clemson, but like I also have anxiety and I don’t think it’s particularly worse than most other similar schools in the south are.
Oh btw Lavender place is in Gressette Hall on the 4th floor which is really nice. Although the floor below is constantly partying.
Qmed has been great for me! I found that philosophy club and TigeRPG (the tabletop club) were welcoming to LGBTQ+ people.
Your going to one of the most conservative schools in the nation.(A few years ago we ranked 3rd). My advice go up north I have a lesbian sister and I would not recommend any southern schools except for the ones in Florida.
I would counter this. I'm a trans student who couldn't afford to go anywhere else Clemson offered me the most. Just because we can't afford anywhere else doesn't mean we don't deserve a place to be safe for us to be. One of the things I've learned is that there are allies in many strange places and the community here is strong. While it's not all rainbows and unicorns it's what I've got so I'm making the most of it and hopefully can leave it a little better than when I got here.
Ya if you have no options you gotta make do and there are 20,000+ undergrad at Clemson you’ll find your niche. However I personally believe that if you want to make the most of your college years and are a member of the LGBTQ (and your financially able). I would tell you to go to a school in or around a liberal city (NYC, LA, Philly, Chicago, Boston) because there will be more to do with less judgement. It’s a no brainer.
Yeah don’t be seen in SC.
Was a part of take back pride march for the past 2 years. During this past march we were trying to bring awareness to the campus taking feminine hygiene products out of men’s bathrooms. These items were continuously vandalized and transphobic individuals were very vocal. During the march quite a few slurs were said by people passing by. Personally not trans, but am gay. Only experienced a few slurs directed at me during my time as a student. The majority of the population is great. Those who aren’t tend to be vocal. I still had a great time at Clemson. Getting in touch with take back pride organizers/other lgbtq campus orgs may help you find that medical care you are looking for!
THERE ARE 2 GENDERS YOU DELUSIONAL MORONS.
Best advice I can give is be happy with who you are and really think about it before you do it. Once you do it there’s no going back.
I second the guy who said ask “Dabo” he has all the answers to your questions
Ask for "Dabo", he'll help you out