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SOGIE Resources Newsletter
September 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
  • Community Corner
  • Practical Tools
  • Upcoming Events & Webinars
  • Articles/Research
  • Policy News
Community Corner
Community Corner is a place where you can share news about work you are doing with young people with diverse SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression). To submit information about your program to be highlighted in this newsletter, please email theinstitute@ssw.umaryland.edu .
Fla. Community Health Organization Launches Model for At-Risk Youth
A Florida-based community health organization has developed a mentorship and “safe space” model to help expand access to preventive care for at-risk youth. The program, developed by CAN Community Health, will specifically target young individuals ages 13 to 21 and connect them with an adult community health worker. Health workers will mentor young members of the LGBTQ+ community, to empower them with the knowledge necessary to access health care and STI screenings, as well as counsel them on the social empowerment skills that can help them address social issues they may face.
Practical Tools
Navigating Barbershops and Salons | Gender Spectrum Video Series
Hair can be a really powerful tool for gender expression, and for many of us our hair affirms our gender identity in really special ways. But barbershops and salons can be intimidating spaces and it can be a process to find the haircut that truly makes you feel good! Our new video series Navigating Barbershops and Salons helps you learn how to navigate barbershops by providing basic tools to help you create the best versions of yourself. Watch the introduction video and follow Gender Spectrum on Instagram or  Facebook to see the full series.
How to Find an LGBTQ+ Friendly College | U.S. News & World Report
Finding the right fit is important for any college student; for the LGBTQ+ community that especially rings true. Historically marginalized and discriminated against, the LGBTQ+ community is now embraced at many colleges across the U.S. Experts say that colleges increasingly want to be viewed as welcoming, diverse, and inclusive of all. Institutional commitment, experts agree, is key to determining how well LGBTQ+ students fare on a college campus. To gauge this commitment, students should look at factors such as housing and restroom policies, curriculum, resources, and representation.
Upcoming Events & Webinars
Webinar: Out and Safe: Supporting LGBTQ+ Health Equity | American Dental Education Association
Thursday, Sept. 19 | 12 -1 p.m. EDT
This webinar introduces the importance of comprehensive, person-centered dental care for LGBTQ+ individuals. Consistent with core accreditation requirements, you will learn how to develop a humanistic and culturally sensitive environment that is welcoming and nurturing. We also will address contextual factors that exist when providing care to LGBTQ+ individuals and related challenges that can lead to miscommunication and health inequity. 
Webinar: Trans & Non-Binary Employees and Workplace Harassment: Legal Rights & Options
Sept. 17 & 22 | 2 p.m. EDT, 1 p.m. CT
Workers from trans and non-binary communities have reported consistently for years that they experience frequent and serious mistreatment at work because of their gender identity or expression. Reported experiences include being denied the right to dress according to one's gender, being denied restroom access, being forced to use names or pronouns that are not right, or being taunted or told offensive jokes. With support from Time's Up Legal Defense & Education Fund, this webinar will clarify how a patchwork of laws and judicial decisions protect trans and non-binary individuals' rights to work without being harassed because of their gender identity or expression. You're invited to join FORGE staff for this webinar to learn more about existing laws that protect trans and non-binary employees, how to effectively prevent or respond to harassment at work, and how to get help, including free legal assistance and support from Time's UP Legal Defense & Education Fund.
Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health: A Core Course for the Whole Care Team
Nov. 1-3, 2019 | Boston
Now in its fifth year, this conference was developed in response to the high volume of queries from clinicians and health care staff seeking to learn about providing high-quality care for adults, adolescents, and children who are questioning their gender identity or who identify as transgender or gender non-binary. It's designed to train the whole health care team in providing competent and confident gender-affirmative health care, grounded in research evidence and best clinical practices. Appropriate for all members of health care teams, including physicians, behavioral health care providers, physician assistants, nurses, and other staff.
Interprofessional Forum on Ethics & Religion in Health Care: What the Golden Rule Really Means in Serving the LGBTQ+ Community
Nov. 7, 2019 | University of Maryland, Baltimore
Gender identity, sexual orientation, and spirituality each play a part in forming our sense of self, our core values, and how we define community. In this unique forum, we explore what the Golden Rule mandates in meeting ethical duties to promote well-being and "do no harm" for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking health care services. Health care providers, ethics committee members, and members of faith communities are welcome as we explore ethical issues related to access and inclusion in health care delivery.
Articles/Research
Researchers Study What Motivates Rural LGBTQ+ Youths to Take Part in Activism
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal, it was a major victory for generations who fought to achieve equality. However, the decision was far from the end of oppression for the LGBTQ+ community, especially queer and transgender youths in rural areas. A University of Kansas researcher co-wrote a study to gauge what issues are most important to this population and what motivates them to take part in activism aimed at equality.
New Report on LGBTQ+ Youth of Color Impacted by Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems
The Williams Institute released its most recent report, LGBTQ+ Youth of Color Impacted by the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems: A Research Agenda. This collection of working papers is focused on understanding what we know and what we need to better understand about the lives and outcomes of system-involved youth who are LGBTQ+ people of color. Read the report here .
Report: W hat We Know About LGBTQ+ People with Disabilities
In recognition of the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Movement Advancement Project recently released a summary of research available on LGBTQ+ people living with disabilities. This resource describes the unique challenges faced by the estimated 3 million to 5 million LGBTQ+ Americans living with disabilities and outlines recommendations for advancing equality and opportunities to help remove these challenges.


Policy News
8 Ways to Promote Health & Well-Being of LGBTQ+ Youth Involved with Child Welfare Through Family First | Center for the Study of Social Policy
The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) marks a substantial movement toward child welfare reform by beginning to bring child welfare financing into alignment with what research tells us is best for children and families: keeping children in their homes whenever safe and possible — and when children have to be placed in foster care —ensuring they are in the most family-like, least restrictive setting that will meet their needs. Through FFPSA there's a significant opportunity for child welfare systems to address existing disparities for LGBTQ+ children, youth, and families.
An Openly Gay Candidate is Running for President in Tunisia, a Milestone for the Arab World
Lawyer Mounir Baatour officially announced his candidacy for the Tunisian presidency recently, becoming the first known openly gay presidential candidate in the Arab world and heralding a major step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in a country that still criminalizes gay sex. Baatour, the president of Tunisia’s Liberal Party, presented his candidacy to the country’s election commission a day ahead of a Friday deadline to qualify for the Sept. 15 election. He received nearly 20,000 signatures in support of his candidacy — double the required number — according to a statement posted to his  Facebook page . “This enthusiasm already testifies to the immense will of the Tunisian people, and especially its youth, to see new a political wind blowing on the country and to concretely nourish its democracy,” the statement said, calling Baatour’s candidacy “historic.”
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