Airing my Philthy Laundry

What did you just ask me?

Today I was searching for a new doctor. Since I have a new job, I am back with Blue Cross Blue Shield as my insurance provider...with that comes several headaches. From my experience, they are difficult to work with, and recently, several doctors stopped providing services for BCBS patients. So I prepared myself for frustration and hit the worldwide web. After a few searches I found a doctor who's name I could pronounce, so I called...he just retired (of course it took me 10 minutes and 3 different people to find this out.) I found another...number was disconnected, so he was probably a great doctor. Round three: After 5 minutes of prompts and recordings I get in touch with a real person. Let me relay this conversation to you:

Man Secretary: Hi, can you hold?
Me: sure...(but I was already on hold before I answered.)

5 minutes of Michael Bolton music elapses

Man Secretary: Hi can I help you?
Me: Yes, I was wondering if I could make an appointment with Dr. Hagen.
Man Secretary: Ok, have you ever seen him before?
Me: No, I'm a new patient.
Man Secretary: Oh Gosh, can you hold again?
Me: Uh, I guess

5 more minutes of Dionne Warwick

Man Secretary: Hi, can I help you?
Me: I hope so, I need to make an appointment with Dr Hagen.
Man Secretary: Oh right, and you're a new patient.
Me: Yes
Man Secretary: Well, can I ask you how you found out about our clinic?
Me: Ok, Well I was on the Blue Cross Blue Shield website looking for PPO providers in my area, and this was a doctor who's name I could pronounce.
Man Secretary: I see. Well, are you gay?
Me: Excuse me????
Man Secretary: Are you gay?
Me: Uh...no.

Silence

Man Secretary: Well, our clinic really caters to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered patients.
Me: (stuttering) Oh, uh, ok.

More Silence. I'm just thinking, how can I end this call without this guy thinking I'm a bigot.

Man Secretary: I mean, you can still make an appointment if you want. Do you want to?
Me: Uh, well, I mean...Not really...But THANK YOU! (this was really loud and awkward) Goodbye.

Click.

So I'm still in search of a doctor. And I'm also in fear of losing my power in society as a white, heterosexual, Christian, male. I'm used to feminists not liking me because I'm male, and I'm used to minorities not liking me because I'm white, and I'm used to "people that are going to hell" not liking me because I'm a Christian. But this is my first time being discriminated against because I'm not gay.
Welcome to Post-Modern America.

posted by philthy @ 5:34 PM