Advocate for Trans Health
The Deputy Commissioner at the NYC Department of Health shares her story of standing in solidarity with the trans community and working to “dismantle systems of transphobia, homophobia, racism, and sexism that play an integral role in the oppression faced by transgender people, especially transgender women of color”.
Here’s what Dr. Maybank suggests the medical and public health community do:
- Advocate for standardized sexual orientation and gender identity data collection. (The Williams Institute provides some useful guidance.)
- Allow all people to self-identify their gender identity on all identity documents, surveys, forms, and other materials.
- Train and educate staff on racial and gender equity as well as the importance of addressing transgender people according to their pronouns, name, and gender identity.
- Enhance programs and services to ensure that all people, especially transgender people of color, can walk into any health center, hospital, or other medical facility and receive quality care that affirms their identities.
- Partner with education, housing, employment, and law enforcement sectors to reduce discrimination and stigma and create inclusive policies that enhance the health and well-being of transgender and gender non-conforming people.
Read the full article here: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/as-a-physician-why-i-stand-in-solidarity-with-the_us_5a33f17fe4b0e7f1200cfa3d
