Today is Transgender Day of Visibility. This day was created to celebrate the living members of the transgender community and celebrate the identity transgender and non-binary people hold. As a community mental health partner, we see you, we honor your identity, and we are committed to providing everyone the psychiatric care they truly need.
Currently there are 18 states in the US that have either passed a law, their governor issued an executive order, or a bill has been introduced into the legislature banning transgender athletes from participating in school sports activities. Many other bills and executive orders aimed at restricting bathroom usage to sex assigned at birth, allowing medical professionals to opt out of providing medical care, and instructing state agencies to investigate gender-affirming medical care as abuse, have passed or are active in local and state legislatures around the country.
PrairieCare is a mental health provider and this type of discrimination is against the guidelines of every major medical, psychiatric, and psychological association in the US, as well as against the ethical standards of practice for the greater medical community including the professional associations for physicians, nurses, spiritual care providers, social workers, and many others. We know that gender identity is unique to the individual and often complex, with many layers to explore. We are committed to journeying with the transgender community on the path to health and healing.
Our organization is especially committed to supporting the health and well-being of transgender youth. These youth are often forced to navigate a complex world without the support of their family, community, or school.
On this Transgender Day of Visibility, we see you, we celebrate your identity, and we are here to support you.
This blog post was authored by Heather C. Thonvold, BCC. Heather is the Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at PrairieCare.