A transgender woman has demanded an apology after a hospital employee mistook her for a man and responded by saying “ergghh” after she confronted them.
According to Chantelle Saunders, a Royal Devon and Exeter hospital nurse mistook her for a man despite the fact that she was dressed as Mrs. Claus when she visited the hospital for Christmas.
After Saunders corrected the hospital employee, they allegedly exclaimed “erggh.”
As Chantelle expressed, she was “very, very upset” not only by the mistake but by the response to realizing that a mistake was done.
Initially, the hospital sent Chantelle a letter in which they explained that the nurse believed she was a male because of the Christmas costume and a beard. Later, however, they apologized for the mistake and suggested exploring “how we can resolve any remaining issues she has.”
According to Chantelle, however, she never wore a beard and did her best to look like a woman.
“I was very, very upset. I’m a transgender woman – transitioning from male to female. I went to visit my friend in hospital on Christmas Eve on one of the RD&E ward,” she said.
“She was in having an operation and there was a nurse in the cubicle. I said ‘Happy Christmas’ and the nurse replied ‘Er…it’s a man.’
“I said ‘No I’m a transgender woman’ and she said ‘errgh.’”
As Chantelle added, the NHS apologized but she complained again because “they didn’t speak to me or speak to my two witnesses.” In their second apology letter, however, the hospital claimed that the nurse in question doesn’t recall making any negative comments during the incident.
“I am always dressed as a woman. I had full make-up. I had my hair on. I am on female hormones and do not have a beard,” Chantelle argued.
“Even my passport shows that I am female. This second letter is even worse than the first.
“Life is difficult enough when you are transitioning. I have had hate crimes committed against me.
“But I am very surprised that this is how I have been treated. They are usually very good and treat me properly. But this is just ridiculous.”
In another similar instance, a transgender woman demanded an apology from the railway after being referred to as a man on two occasions.
According to Katie Yeomans, she felt “very angry” and “insulted” after the conductor allegedly called her a ‘sir’ twice in a row.
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