Leadership and Lessons Take Center Stage in Trans Health Fair
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct. 12, 2014)
For some the annual Transgender Health Fair is a place to get information before making a decision to transition. For others it is a way to find businesses, organizations and service providers that welcome the trans community. For some it is a place to connect and be supported. And for some like Amanda Niven, it’s a chance to organize and stand up for transgender visibility and equality.
Niven is the Project Leader for the Trans* Leadership Project, which is being organized through Unity Michigan. “Our short-term goal is to make sure that Elliott-Larsen is amended and that it’s inclusive for everybody,” Niven said. Elliott-Larsen is Michigan’s Civil Rights law that bans discrimination based on race, age, disability and a number of other factors. There is currently discussion in the Michigan legislature about amending it to include sexual orientation and gender expression. (We recently spoke to Mel Larsen, co-creator of the Act. Read more about the law and his opinion on changing it at http://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/09/26/50years-of-mdcr-4-mel-larsen-speaks-on-adding-lgbt-protection-to-civil-rights-act-video/)
The second goal, Niven said, is to “develop leadership in the trans community. We need people to be visible, to share their stories, and to be activists.” This can include working phone banks, sending letters, door-knocking and speaking, but people can get involved in any way they feel comfortable.”
Transgender Michigan has long been the go-to organization for transgender support and resources. They are the main organization behind the health fair, which was hosted by Affirmations. Funding and volunteers are an ongoing struggle as more and more people come out as transgender, or as needing resources to understand what someone they know may be experiencing as they come out. Because there is increasing awareness, cultivating transgender leadership and support is now part of many group’s missions.
Even among entities that do not have a specific LGBT focus, transgender advocacy is growing.
Angela Lippard of the Area Agency on Aging 1B was among the representatives at exhibition tables through the event. The agency helps older adults find resources they need to navigate many of life’s challenges. “We received a grant through Affirmations to be more LGBT-friendly,” Lippard said. “We worked on developing best practices, like asking people who come in what their preferred pronouns are, and we have an LGBT Resource Guide that the Older Adult Coalition put together.”
Two dozen affirming service providers had space at the fair, including AIDS Partnership Michigan, Safe Space Thereputic Services, Quinn Art Therapy, Linn Counseling Services and Access Community Health and Research Center.
Rachel Crandall-Crocker, who is a counselor and the Executive Director for Transgender Michigan, was one of the day’s featured speakers. She hosted a Q&A session about counseling for trans people. In order for transgender people to get hormones or surgery, they are required to attend counseling and get a letter in support of it from their counselor.
Crandall-Crocker transitioned 20 years ago and has been counseling others for 15 years. She asked what counselors should expect from their clients who are transitioning.
“A support network,” said one audience member. “Do you have friends or allies you can go to? Do you have a shoulder to cry on?”
“Consistency, staying on your meds, keeping up doctor’s appointments, knowing this is what you want to do,” another said.
Crandall-Crocker also stressed the importance of understanding hormones and only taking them with the oversight of a doctor. “The blood screen the doctor will do is so important,” she said. “I know people who were really hurt by buying hormones online. I’ve been on hormones at least 20 years and I still go for blood screenings.”
Transgender Michigan has a wealth of resources and events for trans people and their allies. Visit their website http://www.transgendermichigan.org to learn more.
Also check out Affirmations Community Center’s website at www.goaffirmations.org.