Rainbow Health

11/15/2021

It’s Trans Awareness Week! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

“Ebony Harper, the Executive Director of California TRANscends, a statewide initiative that promotes the health and wellness of transgender people throughout California with a focus on Black and Brown transgender communities spoke to the Blade Saturday afternoon addressing the needs of the Trans community;

“While our community has some visibility in media, we still live under threats of violence and having our rights stripped from us. That’s our reality. This isn’t a narrative; these are facts! This year alone, over 102 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 7 states. 47 to prevent trans kids from playing sports and the majority attacking how trans folks receive healthcare.

“At least 45 transgender people were murdered this year, the majority Black and Latinx transgender women. I’m one of many Black trans women advocating for our community, but you as an ally can have a powerful impact; Spreading awareness, resisting “the status quo” for us, speaking-up, is harm prevention. That’s humanizing our experience. We are divinely human, just as you are divinely human. That’s what this week is about. It’s about our humanity.”

( https://www.losangelesblade.com/2021/11/13/transgender-awareness-week-2021-begins-as-community-is-under-siege/ )

How can you help? A few ideas…

🏳️‍⚧️Donate: https://giveout.org/trans-awareness-week-2021

🏳️‍⚧️Watch: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2020/11/16/transgender-awareness-week-movies-shows-documentaries/6277538002/

🏳️‍⚧️Support youth: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/

🏳️‍⚧️Hire: https://outandequal.org/2021-transgender-awareness-week/

Transgender Awareness Week – celebrated annually in November – is a crucial time to uplift the voices and experiences of the transgender and nonbinary community through education and action.

10/20/2021

https://19thnews.org/2021/10/in-western-massachusetts-transhealth-clinic-seeks-to-revolutionize-care/

Transhealth Northampton wants to change primary care for its trans patients and the industry.

09/30/2021

“Discrimination, delays and systemic hurdles prevent young trans people from reaching the care they need, a new study finds.”

Discrimination, delays and systemic hurdles prevent young trans people from reaching the care they need, a new study finds.

06/03/2021

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/-lot-trauma-trans-parents-say-medical-system-isnt-set-pregnancies-rcna1098

Transgender parents and birth workers say the current medical system isn't set up to support trans birthing people.

06/02/2021

Dr. Jan Oosting of Rainbow Health Consulting contributed to an article on LGBTQ+ health in the current issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine -

Check out some helpful tips! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

“My physician is misgendering or deadnaming me.”

WHAT NOW? If you feel safe, say something like, “my name is, and I shouldn’t be referred to by any other name.” you could also try, “my pronouns are, and I shouldn’t be referred to by any others.

WHAT NEXT? Some states consider misgendering a patient on purpose a form of harassment, so (again, if you feel comfortable) you can file a complaint against the facility where it happened or with your state medical board. The latter can determine whether or not the doctor should face fines, probation, or even suspension.”

How to navigate a (very imperfect) system and come out feeling seen, heard, and healthy.

05/06/2021

04/16/2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/15/987784566/being-mentored-helps-black-medical-students-face-isolation-racial-microaggressio

Many of these students are first-generation doctors with no one to turn to for advice. Finding mentors in academia is one way to help them overcome barriers and increase their odds at success.

03/31/2021

Surprisingly common! What’s a surprising experience you have had with a health care provider who needed more education on LGBTQ+ health?

This has happened more times than I care to count