We’re excited to announce that we’re launching a new online support group, for any and all LGBTQIA+ members of the pituitary community!
This new group will be held online, and will be a welcoming and open space for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/aromatic +) who has been diagnosed with a pituitary condition.
To celebrate the start of the new group, we spoke to Matt – the new volunteer running the group.
Meet our new support group leader, Matt!
Hi I’m Matt (They/Them), I’m 26 and identify as trans. I was diagnosed with two germinoma brain tumours – one on my pituitary gland, the other on my pineal – in April 2017, a handful of weeks before finishing college and being able to look forward to uni in the September.
8 years on from my diagnosis and successful treatment for the tumours, I am still facing new difficulties and learning new things about my pituitary conditions (AVP deficiency, formerly diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism and hypothyroidism) and how they affect each and every part of my life in different ways.
Assigned male at birth, I identify as trans but before I came out publicly in 2023 I happily identified as agender. In 2018, I was put on testosterone injections and struggled immensely seeing my body become more masculine. Eventually, in 2023 for my own mental health, I stopped having testosterone injections and spoke to my endocrinologist about my identity.
What followed was a books-worth of positive and negative experiences navigating my local gender clinic, lots of counselling and meeting and talking to lots of other LGBTQIA+ people about my own and their experiences navigating the health care system.
Long story short, I was left with the bombshell that if I started taking affirming hormones I would likely develop a recurrence or another tumour. After that I made the difficult decision to restart taking testosterone for my physical health despite it’s impacts on my identity.
Since my diagnosis in 2017, I’ve been passionate about raising awareness for, and increasing access to, cancer support services. I’ve done this through sharing my story and volunteering with Shine Cancer Support and Young Lives vs Cancer. After officially coming out in early 2023 I have been keen to share my mixed experience of cancer and gender with different charities, podcasts and even a year-long blog!
Now I’m starting the LGBTQIA+ group with The Pituitary Foundation, which I am delighted to help run. This group will provide a space for all LGBTQIA+ people with a pituitary condition to meet together in a safe space, connect, build a community and share and listen to others who get what it’s like.
I’m so grateful to be able to help create and run this group and I look forward to meeting all of you soon!
