This talk is part of a sexual health series co-hosted by the Philadelphia Area Sexual Health Initiative (PASHI)--a program of Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) and the Center for Human Sexuality Studies at Widener University. The audience for this discussion includes psychotherapists, sexual health educators, social workers, human service workers and anyone interested in sexual health.
The lecturer for this event is Deja Lynn Alvarez, Core Trainer for the Transgender Training Institute
Lecture Description
Current estimates indicate that there are at least 1.4 million transgender and non-binary adults living in the United States, which is about the same number of people living in Philadelphia, the 6th largest city in the US. As there has been an increase in access to information, resources, and social support, more transgender and non-binary people are now able to live as their authentic selves. In doing so, transgender and non-binary people navigate complex social systems, often with limited insight or support from cisgender folks around them. This interactive 3-hour training is designed for participants who already have a “Trans 101” knowledge base and are seeking to expand their personal and professional knowledge to better support and affirm transgender and non-binary people in their practices, workplaces, social circles, and communities. Throughout this session we will work to identify some of the challenges transgender and non-binary individuals face in their day-to-day lives, and work towards implementing skills that allies can take in order to help actualize respectful and affirming environments.
Objectives
- Describe 3 common challenges transgender and non-binary people experience and the potential impact of these challenges.
- Demonstrate understanding of at least 3 individual and collective strategies to further affirm transgender and non-binary people.
- Name two immediate actions that can be taken to be more affirming when working with patients, colleagues, and/or community members who are transgender or non-binary.
Presenter Bio
Deja Lynn Alvarez is an award winning transgender advocate and activist with a long history of representing and serving trans communities in Philadelphia. She volunteers in leadership capacities for several local organizations, including: Mayor Kenney’s Commission of LGBT Affairs and the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs, William Way Community Center, Philly Women’s Rally, and the Liberty City Democrats. Ms. Alvarez also serves as a member of the Philadelphia Police Advisory committee, the Pennsylvania HIV planning committee, co-chair of the annual Trans March in Philadelphia, and chair of the annual Philadelphia Trans Day of Remembrance.
She is a group facilitator at The Philadelphia AIDS Consortiums’ Transformation Group and has facilitated groups at the Morris Home, the first trans-specific recovery home in the United States. Ms. Alvarez is the co-founder and former executive director of the LGBTQ Home for Hope where she was able to get the first LGBTQ specific shelter/recovery program in the city up and running. She is one of the founding members of the Trans Wellness Program at Mazzoni Center, a co-founder and former facilitator of Sisterly Love (a Trans support and skill-building program by and for transgender women), and a former coordinator for the Trans Information Project of GALAEI. In recognition of her leadership and dedication to Philly’s trans communities, Ms. Alvarez was awarded the 2015 Jaci Adams award, from Philly Pride and the 2016 Person of the Year from the Philadelphia Gay News, among numerous other awards for her life’s work and dedication to Trans and LGBT causes. Professionally, she currently works as a system navigator for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Health. She joined the TTI Training Team in 2018, and brings with her a wealth of knowledge about transgender communities and lived experiences of transgender people.