Personal Values
I have a strong bias to be an advocate for sexual/gender minorities in the LGBTQ community, especially those with intersectional identities. This is shown in my professional values and my involvement and advocacy with the transgender community. As part of the LGBTQ community and a person of color myself, I understand some of the systemic barriers that affect the transgender community, such as difficulty finding competent providers, lack of insurance coverage, and high poverty rates. Even though I am part of the overall community, I have seen how the LGBQ community often excludes transgender individuals in their issues. This further excludes them as they may not feel heard or supported by other gender and/or sexual minorities …show more content…
This community faces unique barriers in all settings, from harassment in the street to their workplace. They often struggle to find appropriate and welcoming services when needed. I know the importance of providing a welcoming environment to all individuals and respecting their dignity and worth. It is vital to support this community at all levels and interactions. At a professional level, I a member of the LGBTQ+ committee at my organization and we have been advocating for gender neutral bathrooms and terminology on intake forms for the past year. When someone from this community enters our facilities and sees that they cannot identify with a bathroom or their identity is not an option on the paperwork, this creates an oppressive environment from the beginning, further preventing them from reaching their wellness goals. Regarding financial access, I always assure myself to inform them of our sliding scale and where to get insurance coverage in our county. As a clinician, it is also important to understand the intersectionality of this community and issues faced to not perpetuate marginalization. At the macro level, I have lobbied for bills that affect the trans community in support for the birth certificate modernization act. Though this experience, I have heard the difficulties that this community faces daily and how under current law, healthcare providers are the ones that must decide their treatment, rather than collaborating and providing gender affirming care. As social workers, we must place value in the individual’s decision in treatment and must practice this in our
I have a strong bias to be an advocate for sexual/gender minorities in the LGBTQ community, especially those with intersectional identities. This is shown in my professional values and my involvement and advocacy with the transgender community. As part of the LGBTQ community and a person of color myself, I understand some of the systemic barriers that affect the transgender community, such as difficulty finding competent providers, lack of insurance coverage, and high poverty rates. Even though I am part of the overall community, I have seen how the LGBQ community often excludes transgender individuals in their issues. This further excludes them as they may not feel heard or supported by other gender and/or sexual minorities …show more content…
This community faces unique barriers in all settings, from harassment in the street to their workplace. They often struggle to find appropriate and welcoming services when needed. I know the importance of providing a welcoming environment to all individuals and respecting their dignity and worth. It is vital to support this community at all levels and interactions. At a professional level, I a member of the LGBTQ+ committee at my organization and we have been advocating for gender neutral bathrooms and terminology on intake forms for the past year. When someone from this community enters our facilities and sees that they cannot identify with a bathroom or their identity is not an option on the paperwork, this creates an oppressive environment from the beginning, further preventing them from reaching their wellness goals. Regarding financial access, I always assure myself to inform them of our sliding scale and where to get insurance coverage in our county. As a clinician, it is also important to understand the intersectionality of this community and issues faced to not perpetuate marginalization. At the macro level, I have lobbied for bills that affect the trans community in support for the birth certificate modernization act. Though this experience, I have heard the difficulties that this community faces daily and how under current law, healthcare providers are the ones that must decide their treatment, rather than collaborating and providing gender affirming care. As social workers, we must place value in the individual’s decision in treatment and must practice this in our