Welcome back to the translator to Civic report. It's May 17, 2023 and we are reporting for the news of May 15th to May 21st. You want to make sure you're informed about the current legislation. We believe that being informed is essential to understanding the challenges facing our communities. We want to make sure you have the right tools to prepare for
any kind of conversation. You may need to have with your loved ones about what this means to you and how it Tax our communities this week Athena for Marcus and no review Cannon, sit with our correspondent from the Transformations project. Elliott Ellen, I'm Caroline Penny creator and producer of the trans there to podcast. And I wanted to take this time prior to our conversation with alien and talk personally about what we're doing here in the Civic report, the translator of
pod. Trans- silver component is an important resource that aims to educate the public and promote diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that everyone has the right to be informed. And that access to accurate.
And unbiased information is essential for a functioning democracy, our report explores, the rise of fascism, and how it compares to democracy, as well as how to dissect misinformation and tackle the onslaught of the anti translations, which being proposed, we are a proud partner with the Transformations
project. A trans LED nonprofit that tracks anti-trans legislation being proposed voted on and passed in the United States. Their work is essential to understanding the challenges facing the trans community. I'm promoting equity and Justice through meaningful conversation and Community engagement. We hope to Foster dialogue that promotes understanding and empathy and I'm really excited to have this opportunity now with you Elliott.
Personally to to sit with you on the translator called the cast are sweetly Civic, reported and just first. Thank you, personally, and thank your team and I'm really excited
to have this collaboration. I think that in a time of misinformation, And so much opinion that as people that that are activists and Advocates. It's so important to to provide what's happening in the world void of so much opinion and emotion because we need, we need more of that or not getting that know where do we look even on the mainstream, do they provide accurate and non-biased information?
It's always angled something. And so our goal here really is to just ensure that we're providing what's happening in this country accurately and and an unbiased and respectfully. I think I think respectfully is another thing that that were
lacking in in media. So I'm really excited to have you here from the Transformations project and before you get started with Athena and Noah, I wanted to ask you a little bit about how you got involved with Transformations project and what brought you here with us today, of course. So I began with Transformations
project. Walk around a year ago, I had extra time to join nonprofit and I heard through the grapevine about tfp right when they're not when they're starting out but definitely on the smaller side and I joined their social media
team. I lend my face and voice their Tick Tock in YouTube and we have partnered with the Trans narrative podcast, sort of break into a different media and to Showcase some of the legislation that is being Being proposed and passed the United States. Legislation is the bread and butter of the Transformations project.
That is all that we do and all that we focus on because just since it's a start of 2023, there have been more than 540 anti-trans bills being proposed and over around 35 States. So, keeping up with that, legislative crisis, that endemic of anti-trans Is bills being proposed and passed is essential to keeping people educated and to keep the fight going.
You know, Elliot when we, when I started this podcast and it was only me, and one of the things that I tried to do was I wanted to hear the stories of people across this country, and I just, I really wanted to hear it wrong. Like them tick with that anything edited.
That was a really the goal. And I think that we've achieved that and I think that we've enhanced the goal, and one of the things that I struggled with was balancing it with news and balancing it with information because That's something that's meaningful to me. And I had in the very first episode of the show, talked about the at the time, 29 states, that were passing anti-trans legislation.
And that was kind of the fuel that SEPTA show in existence because in January of 2022, I had this idea in my head and I didn't know what to do, but when I had when I had come to terms with that and that understanding of how many states were doing that, I wasn't as informed, I was going through personal crisis, I wasn't, you know, I wasn't in the in the world at the time and so when I found that out, it was it was a shock.
And so, to be here a year and a half later, partnering with it organization that provides the, the updates to anti-trans legislations. It's it's meaningful. And I'm very grateful that you're here. Before you jump into your conversations, are the conversation with Athena and Noah, lastly, what have we've done for Of these. Now of course of these Civic reports here on this trans narrative podcast, what have what has been your experience? So far being in this new type of
medium? Is there anything that you've learned that be kind of enhance what you're doing with the Transformations project? Yeah, well being on a podcast inside of it has been new for me. I've had some experience with doing short form video content. So Longer-form audio content that was entirely new for me. But I found something that I really loved doing.
And it also just sort of helped me focus on the idea that it's really important to get the news and the information out there and it's many different mediums possible because we can post something on Instagram. Sure, not everyone's on Instagram, some people are on Twitter or some people want videos or some people want to podcast format.
And making sure that we get that information out there in whatever format people want to see it in has, it's so crucial to keeping the fight going and I've Loved breaking into this new medium for me and being able to do that. You had mentioned the legislative period where you will mention, I guessed that, the legislative period is coming to an end here and that is the bread and butter of your organization. So, what will you be doing to continue to fight during the off period?
And what will you be doing to prepare for the next legislative season? Yeah. So during the off period, there's still lots that people can do, and that will be focusing on focusing, on supporting the trans non-binary. Community via education about their and our issues and realities learning from reliable sources and listening to personal experiences is the best way to learn what life is like for a trans gender non-binary, intersex individual in the United States.
Also speaking up and taking action against the transfer, obeah cisnormativity in or sexism and other forms of Oppression being able to challenge those harmful stereotypes and misinformation. And we will be supporting And and or joining campaigns and movements that will be occurring
during the offseason. Also, we would like to be able to provide practical support for Trans non-binary or six people who might be struggling or in need helping them access resources or services and also celebrating achievements. And Joy's within the community are essential and that's something that we will like to be focusing on during this offseason. That's wonderful.
So before so this week we have a report the transit of Civic report, can you provide us a little context of what that is this week that you'll be discussing with Noah and Athena? Yeah, the trans narrative Civic report this week will be focusing a lot on intersectionality within the oppression that we are facing. And within the community accessibility to Health Care coverage and information, and also the mental health and advocacy and support.
Well, with that being said, I think I'm going to hop off and let it sit there like you did so much better than me. Thank you. Oh my God, Kylie, I'm sorry. It's not a competition Athena. I know it's not but it's a collaboration and you did a great job. So I'm saying thank you. Hi, this is Athena provoke us with the Trans narrative specific Port joined today by a correspondence, Noah Buchanan and Elliot owns me and Elliot, you're here to bring us today. Some news about the legislation
that's been coming through. Thank you very much for joining us today. I focus for this week's report is to focus on legislation with emphasis on trans non-binary and the intersex community and trans youth focusing on intersectionality. Accessibility and research backing up gender, affirming care and mental health in these communities. How are y'all doing today? I'm doing wonderful. How about yourself? Excellent doing excellent. I'm self.
And knowing you feeling, well I'm I'm getting there. Aren't we all now the legislative weather might not be as good this week so what news do we have to share today? I have a couple bills, Oklahoma SV 129 causes gender, affirming Healthcare, providing to be a felony and Florida H 1521, which is your run-of-the-mill bathroom bill. Which as we all know, both these bills are just a violation of Human Rights and civil liberties and also have an increased risk
of violence and suicide. So those are some standout ones right off the bat that I've noticed. But But while we are currently in this legislative swing, there's been a huge flood of just legislative movements that have been detrimental to the transgender intersex and non-binary communities. Absolutely. It's been difficult to kind of keep track of all of that. And Noah you've been putting together some projects to help people keep these these different threads intact.
Can you tell us a little bit about how we can kind of help keep our finger on the pulse there? Really at the end of the day is, like, people really need to pay attention to what's going on and ways to, we can Empower each other and to lift each other up right now. And that's essentially what I would like to do this, country is so filled with hate and darkness. There's like week zero light of empathy, and compassion need to
have that more than ever now. So the resources that I am building, I am building interactive maps to try to get people to look at things visually that. Hey like this is What is really going on? This is what is there, so people can actually see it. I'm one of those type of people that I learn visually. I not one of those people that just likes to re if I do it.
It's like, It just brings grad school Bob's for me I mean I'm almost done with my grad school program and I kind of want to avoid like going down that route and making people feel that way. It's like I want to give people that energy to motivate them to actually do something because if you kind of look at overall like in the news already, hearing is depression like its depressive and like it's impacting our mental health pretty significantly. I mean it's impact are impacting
our use. What was it like this? Since survey from the Trevor Project, like two-thirds of children are getting negatively impact with all this bad stuff. That's be able to provide ways to be like, you know what? Yes, there's all this bad stuff that's going on, but we need to keep that motivation to fight and to empower people.
So that we, that way, we can get the things that we need, instead of, you know, just leaving, people upset and hopeless and not doing anything we need to lift each other. Other up and that's essentially what I would like to do with these Maps. But also in a sense, remind our siblings and the lgbtqia+ that we need to be united. We can't be divided enough with the petty crap. We need to unite right now because this is getting real and light, like make it was suggested earlier.
Like, there's just a wave of things going down legislatively and right now, we can't afford to sit there and mess around. We have to take action. Mhm.
Absolutely. And action is being taken in lots of different places and really just making sure that you can understand where you're at in the country and make sure that you know, your support networks because local support network still exists, no matter where you are in the United States. It's great to reach out and find community and to help understand these bills.
So, if we can talk a little bit about, like, kind of the concrete ways to survive, say like in a state, where there's a bathroom bill, Ban like where Florida is trying to pass it
right now. What kind of impact would you see on the ground floor, Elliot view, seen any, any discussion about how that might affect you know the day-to-day life of transgender people in Florida. Yeah, there's sort of two big things about its physical safety and mental safety, so with physical safety, it's not like people are going to be arrested in a huge way for using bathroom or Jennifer My Healthcare.
It creates this sense of empowerment for people who oppose transgender intersex, non-binary individuals, they can quote, take matters into their own hands or do vigilante justice justice. Once again, being an air quotes, heavy air quotes and also creating an unsafe environment for Trans individuals, especially youth, it undermines the rights and dignity, it deserves Denies access to a central and affirming services and support it.
Increases risk of mental health problems, like depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation even PTSD, which have higher rates in trans, non-binary and intersex individuals. Yeah. And to be cleared, the medical foundations of the World Health, organization's are all showing that there are positive benefits to gender affirming, care and denying the ability for patients.
Since to make their own choices, as individuals is happening in multiple States. And we see those passing in Missouri. They have a bill heading to the governor's desk, to prevent gender affirming care for people under the age of 18 as well. But all of these things are impacting people and different levels and only the trans
bathroom level is right. You're not going to see a whole lot of people that are going to be going to jail over this or protesting and in ways like this over the street, but the mental health of people People in Florida, who are transgender intersex or non-binary is going to be a lot depended on their neighbors, valuations of them? And we know in rural areas that that isn't necessarily as robust of community. So what do we talk about the key takeaways?
I would definitely say, finding support networks, making sure that you're aware of what impacts you have in local laws. And, I know you do have that map here to provide for us as well and will provide that link in the show notes and everything.
Now there's also just kind of intersectionality to discuss because like I said rural environments aren't necessarily the same as more urban environments and people of color in Black indigenous, people of color and people who are, you know, not necessarily as passing in there. Presentation, could experience more difficulties. So let's talk about maybe some some ways that we could find support. Is there any other way that we can find ways to reach out and find Community for each other
today? Then these days? Well, I will tell you right now, I'm actually in the processes of developing kind of like a peer support group because I'm in the last stages of my master's program. So just in case, if you can, some of you don't No, I am actually going to school to become a licensed, professional
clinical counselor. I'm going to be graduating in November. But so, during the internship, I actually have to accrue group hours and so I actually may have found a loophole to where the like with mental health provider, we have to practice, in our state, we have to see clients in her State. However, if you're developing like a general, like, peer support group, I can virtually see anyone in any. So, that is something that I am
trying to put together. I would like to develop a support group for lgbtqia+ folks, plus building a support group for lgbtqia+ use plus, an additional support group for parents for Trans use or lgbtqia+ youth. Because, you know, really going looking through like the Trevor Project. I'm not sure if any of you have read the recent one but they came out with a survey in 2023 and they only said 35% of the youth are only feeling supported
at home. Most of that affirmative support that newts are receiving as online. It's about 70%, 52 percent are only experiencing support and school I would say start their education is important and that's how we're going to empower people. Because I've always said this, what creates a stigma really one mess-up, it only takes one floor. One mess-up to create a stigma and how to create how to stop a stigma is by educating and empowering people, we can show
stat side. That's the thing to people, don't really like to show the science either. I would like to make pamphlets to bring awareness to be like, hey, like did you know actually 35 percent of kids or feeling safe at home? What your check this out? This is a way that you can actually support your Youth and Empower you use. This is not can actually support adults as well because there are many of us that don't have that passing privilege to where they could use the bathroom or go
into a public State space. So I feel like now I think the solution is going to have to be, we gotta bring Community together, we gotta support each other. There needs to be more people advocating for support groups and that Something that I am trying to develop with my network by building chapters, we're trying to build support groups within our chapters in each state. I know Michigan right now, we're developing a support group for trans women up there, so I just things like that.
We would like to build a youth mentorship program, because youth need mentors, they need that, because if they're not getting that support at home, let's have somebody else. Kind of help step in and like, hey, I'm a safe neutral person to talk to Something like that. That would, that would be my solution. Honestly, it's that we just need to get together and, you know, just encourage people to learn because apparently people don't want us to learn in this
country, it's bubble. Yeah, it is kind of unfortunate but education is going to be our silver bullet for a lot of this and in Missouri even where they passed a bill, you know, opposing gender, affirming care. It specifically states that cannot restrict the free speech of people. Didn't care. So we still have the ability to show respect to the people that we love and we still have the ability to address people as they, you know, wish to be
addressed. So like another way is that they're trying to restrict access to care at different levels in Florida? For example, there is a bill to prevent nurse practitioners, providing gender affirming here, which is I think I heard about 83 percent of the care. Provided LED have any more information about that bill How that's been progressing, I don't have information on that specific bill but lots of very similar bills have been coming
out. There's a lot of, I guess easy as a good way to put it. There's been a lot of easy ways for these legislators to block, gender forming Health Care.
They don't need to just do an outright ban, Banning insurance coverage specially for Medicare and Medicaid, that is an easy way for them to block it. So I there is a shortage of trained and experienced providers, lack of cultural competence, sensitivity and refusal to care due to bias or beliefs, not having any protections about that severely limits. How gender affirming Healthcare
can be distributed. Also the laws that restrict access to gender forming health care for minors or allow discrimination based on gender identity or even making changing your name difficult or gender marker change difficult. That also creates this stigma and discrimination which leads to harassment violence internalized, transphobia and just self-doubt with the individual.
Being able to advocate for more inclusive and comprehensive insurance coverage and policies for gender Foreman Care at the state. And federal levels is a fantastic way to help ensure that gender affirming. Health. Care can stay accessible also, If there's a way to legislate increasing the availability and accessibility of providers who are trained and competent and providing such health care, whether they have specific, education, training mentor, hit ship.
And or if they even provide it through Telehealth programs mandating that training and competence is another way that we can sort of help make sure gender from Healthcare stays accessible and available. Also Apologies. No, go ahead. Yeah, simplifying. And standardizing the process for receiving gender from a healthcare and even changing your name or gender markers on official documents across the states.
That is such a huge barrier that a lot of people have it the process to get hormones or puberty blockers or even change your name, it varies wildly depending on what state you're at and places such as Mara. Island. You can make your gender marker X at the DMV. No questions asked other places. There are legal, loopholes you have to require. They require having surgeries or living in the identity for x amount of years.
Psychiatrist note, it complicates it and makes it difficult, especially if you are moving across states, it is whole different games depending on where you're at. And I absolutely end with some of the bills that are being passed, just to increase the demand, that's on Mental Health Care Providers. It does mean that there will be a need for higher awareness and training in those positions to
you know. And that's a little bit of a positive spin for people will have to be a little bit more aware to take care of the people who are required to seek this kind of support. I know I've heard some people saying that if you can found a support group doing In that hour, long training for some of those bills that would require it in that support group is a helpful way to make sure that
you don't feel singled out. Or if you don't feel like, you've got a single person, who's going to be providing affirming care for you in the way that you want? But yeah, seeking out those those other groups and making sure that the groups that you do have and maintain are accessible to as many people as possible. Drew, you know, Telehealth and through making it, you know, visually accessible as well as audibly accessible. Whatever ways that you can.
So it is mental health awareness month and do we have any other ways that we could help our listeners who might be struggling with the feelings that things are coming very rapidly against them or feelings that they might be excluded or feel left out from their communities? Yeah, like we mentioned before. Oh, go ahead. Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, you know, you're good. I think we had a slight lag, like we mentioned before, providing the training and
education for mental health. Providers on the specific needs and experiences of trans non-binary, intersex, individuals, and also best practice standards of care. That is a huge thing, but on a smaller more personal level being able to create safe and supportive.
Places for these individuals, whether it's lgbtqia+ friendly clinics, or online platforms just having a safe space, whether it is a classroom that you teach in or a house where your kids can have their friends come over, it's integral for mental health. Support in home amongst your peers, amongst your community can help with Problems.
Such as the anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation in ways that you wouldn't even believe, especially in states, where the legislation is not on their side. Absolutely and know that you have some something else to add to that as well. Well, this speaking has a mental health provider. I mean there's a lot wrong with
mental health, in general. Like, I mean, if you put like, kind of our issues to decide, I mean we have people already that don't even want to go to therapy at all, because there's an existing stem stigma within our field and it's constantly getting reinforced. So, honestly, I agree. Mental health is a central, it's needed.
But I mean, mental health and itself, we need to do better but then our work and I know you mentioned competency That is the big key thing right there because in our ethical codes, it requires us to be confident if we're not confident on something. We're supposed to take a step back. If we don't do that, then I guess we're not going to be able to practice therapy because like that is a big key component when it comes to doing any type of
therapy. And my thing with competency, I can't speak for every University but I can at least speak on behalf of mine. Is that they don't offer lgbtqia+ training for their best. They bring it up maybe a couple times and Multicultural counseling human sexuality. We talked about lgbtqia+ issues for week, no books. We just had to read articles like it really wasn't effective at all.
So like, I mean, it really, honestly, if it was for me, when it comes to mental health, I need we need to advocate for education to be in these programs in these counseling programs. I mean, For me, I wouldn't even consider just it. I would take it a step further with just having it as a specialization, but like it to have that stuff there and her education as mental health
providers. I think it would definitely reduce the amount of people like the hesitancy of wanting to come to counseling because we didn't have that knowledge. But if you want to go there on the stages of Competency, one thing that I have learned as a therapist, is the simply if you really don't know, No, just simply say you don't know, like I have a client that I'm working with that.
There's some things I really have zero clue about what the hell it is. So I essentially just ask the clients like, tell me more about that. What is happening to you? So simply even just like, asking those questions. Both of us can learn as a therapist as a client, we need to be reinforcing in the field of mental health, and advocating that we need to show compassionate and care to these clients.
Because I know most of you probably have seen what's going on in the build, it affects Mental Health, Providers to like in some of these bills, it actually gives us permission to deny trans people. If it goes against our religious and moral beliefs, it gives us that for permission. There's people trying to promote conversion therapy, practice it. We need to be advocating more that conversion therapy needs to
be banned. So like that is something that we need to do and mental health we need to Step up as healthcare providers. Tell people that the stuff is unethical. And finally, Dan like, at least conversion therapy, because that's, that's the problem right now? And that sounds kind of point and no worries. That's one good pinpoint. You can put on your map for Kansas City. They did say that the county will be banning conversion therapy as part of their their policy.
So there are some other ways great that are great ways to be Advocates and whatever position you are. I mean, all I do is customize, For service, but every time I talk to somebody, I respect who they are, and who they say they are and with pronouns that they use coming to people without biases or preconceived notions. That does a lot to, you know, a grant people at least the freedom to be beyond your own Prejudice. That might be built in. Are there any other programs or initiatives?
You'd like to discuss from the Transformations project then guarding the mental health then Yeah, we don't have any specific programs in terms of mental health, although we are incredibly incredibly aware of the detriment that the anti-trans legislation can have every podcast episode.
We offer Mental Health Resource at the end because it is So important to focus on the voices and the struggles of trans non-binary intersect individuals, because we need to empower people like us. So that our struggles can be
hurt. Absolutely, that's why I want to put this project together so that our voices are kind of heard as one not just as a, you know, a one-off so to speak or a token is It's kind of representation but I'll be kind of together on the same Pages. We can sort of bypass a lot of you know assumptions that people will have to work through really hard on a day-to-day level. And so just having a voice for everybody, can feel comfortable together is often a safe
project. It's a wait, it's a project to help people feel safe and expressing themselves and where they might not otherwise or to develop the language and skills that they might need to use to have those You today conversations. So we want to make sure that we include, you know, trans non-binary and intersex individuals in our thoughts, you know, before anything else before we say, write up a paper or maybe generalize anything about who were talking to, I like the word folks myself.
So you folks have been excellent at sharing the resources with us today. Some of the legislation, we have another major Ager bills that we need to cover on this Elliot. I know other major bills to speak of however, that does not mean that bills are not being passed. The Transformations project, we keep traffic of the into trans legislation in the United States at local state and federal
levels. So, I would highly recommend viewers and listeners to go to Transformations, project.org check on their state, check on the state of their friends and educate themselves about the realities of trans gender non-binary. Or sex issues. That was thanks so much for sitting down with us this week, Elliot, with Noah and Cena. It was a pleasure. And before we hop off, I want to thank the listeners for joining
in this week. To the translator of podcast, you can find this very get your podcast. And if you'd like to join us in any capacity, you can find us on Facebook Twitter or what is it tick, tock, and you can email us at Rams are the podcast at gmail.com. That being said, Elliot could you give us a little context to what we can look forward to in our next Civic report?
Of course, and now that the legislative cycle has been dying down, we will be focusing on the Fallout of what has been happening and how we can prepare for the next legislative cycle the spike and anti-trans legislation has opened a lot of legislators eyes to what bills do pass, what bills work and what bills don't. So this next cycle I predict will be more Insidious as They will be able to take what works and roll with it and cut out what doesn't work.
So we'll be focusing on that what we can do to keep educating and advocating during this time and how to prepare for the next legislative cycle. Stephen. What if you liked this episode of nutrients? Their podcast, be sure to subscribe. Like, and follow more importantly, they are with your
friends. Today's episode was recorded on May 13th 2023. Be is in today's show was hosted by a terrifying, pity, and Athena from Marcus, today's guest co-host was Noah Buchanan. This correspondent was Elliot Island. A from the Transformations project, the translation of podcast was created, by Caroline Penny, the is episode, was edited directed And produced, by Caroline Penny, the translator to podcasts, co-developed by Arielle, a key, Steven for Marcus and Lucia, basado
research, provided by Athena from obvious Caroline, painting and Manu, music provided by gamma Skies title, get up again, the music you hear now has been and produced by Athena from Oculus this episode of the translator to podcast was brought to you by Spotify, for podcasters. The easiest way to upload a podcast formerly known as anchor. Thank you for supporting Show for more details about this episode, go to the description
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