Columbia Psychiatry’s Post

Unconditional love and absolute respect for LGBTQ+ youth is a value shared by the entire Covenant House federation. At Covenant House Mexico, that often means caring for youth who’ve faced incredible trauma specifically because of their identities. It’s common for LGBTQ+ youth to arrive at Covenant House Mexico fleeing violence or even death threats because of their sexual orientation. Staff report that residents fleeing homophobic and transphobic violence are almost always extremely guarded and reluctant to express their identities because of the hurt they’ve experienced. For Covenant House Mexico, a big part of Pride and supporting LGBTQ+ youth is simply providing a physical space where those young people know they are safe from the kinds of threats they’ve escaped. But it also means actively helping LGBTQ+ youth restore self-confidence and overcome that trauma through therapy, gender-affirming healthcare, and other specialized programs that specifically address their rights that have been violated. Read more about how Covenant House Mexico serves LGBTQ+ youth on our blog:

On March 31st, we celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility, highlighting the needs, activism, and demands of trans and gender-diverse people in Canada. 🏳️🌈 According to Stats Canada data from 2020, LGBTQ2S+ people were more than twice as likely as heterosexual Canadians to experience inappropriate sexual behaviours in public, online or at work in the previous 12 months. They were almost three times more likely than heterosexual Canadians to report that they had been physically or sexually assaulted in the previous 12 months and more than twice as likely to report having been violently victimized since the age of 15. It is crucial that we design our public spaces - and all spaces - to be safe for gender-diverse people to exist without harassment and threats of violence, helping to create the conditions for LGBTQ2S+ individuals and communities to thrive. 🌟 Read our blog "Queer Activism in Public Space" to learn more https://lnkd.in/eSSUvGKJ #TDOV #TransDayOfVisibility

Tomorrow is Transgender Day of Visibility, or TDoV, a day to acknowledge and celebrate the transgender community. Trans visibility is essential as it can be difficult for many trans and gender diverse people to feel proud of their identity when there is a lack of representation and role models. TDoV is a time to take up space - be seen, be heard and be proud.  As a proud feminist health organisation, Women's Health Victoria knows the impact of inequality on health and wellbeing. That's why we are committed to building a more inclusive and safe environment for all program users and staff, including non-binary, trans, intersex and gender diverse people. You can learn more about our commitment to gender diversity and inclusion here - https://lnkd.in/e7zA7cGP

Today is the #DayofNOSlience, a student-centered day of action when people across the country draw attention to discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth. This day was started by two college students in the mid-1990s as a Day of Silence, during which students took a vow of silence during the school day to echo the silence that is caused by harassment, discrimination, and prejudice of LGBTQ+ youth. They would end the day with Breaking the Silence rallies, talking about how people could fight these injustices. In recent years, sponsors have changed the focus of the day to one of action instead of silence in response to the introduction of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country. This day matters to those who care about suicide prevention because statistics and surveys show that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are at higher risk of suicide. Forty-one percent of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 14 percent have attempted it, according to a 2023 Trevor Project survey. "LGBTQ young people are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society," according to the survey. For more information on how to show support for LGBTQ+ youth, visit https://buff.ly/4awItYp. Find the 2023 Trevor Project survey results here: https://buff.ly/3pC32Qx

Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we at ALPFA New York stand in solemn solidarity with the transgender community. 🟣 This day is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for transgender rights and the urgent need to protect trans lives. It's a day to honor and remember those we've lost to violence and discrimination, and to recommit ourselves to the work of building a world where every transgender person can live safely, authentically, and freely. At ALPFA New York, inclusivity is not just a policy; it's our passion. This year, we've taken significant strides to ensure our community is a welcoming space for all, especially for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals: 🌟 Inclusive DNA: We've evolved our organizational DNA to be more inclusive, including the addition of pronoun options in our new programs and events, ensuring everyone feels seen and respected. 🌟 Education & Awareness: We've hosted workshops and seminars focused on LGBTQIA+ issues, providing a broader scope of resources and education to our members, fostering an environment of understanding and acceptance. 🌟 Partnership & Support: We've partnered with local NGOs and advocacy groups to support the Queer community, both within and outside our organization, reinforcing our commitment to diversity and inclusion. As we reflect on this day, we also want to highlight and support the incredible work of NGOs dedicated to protecting and uplifting trans lives. We encourage you to learn about and support these organizations: Transgender Legal Defense And Education Fund (TLDEF) - Providing legal services and advocacy for transgender people.  The Trevor Project - Offering crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth, with a focus on transgender and nonbinary individuals. GLAAD - Working to promote understanding, increase acceptance, and advance equality for the transgender community. Trans Lifeline - A grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis. National Center for Transgender Equality(NCTE) - Advocating for policy change to advance transgender equality. Together, let's honor the memory of those we've lost, celebrate the resilience and strength of the transgender community, and commit to a future of inclusion, equality, and love. 💜 #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance #TDOR #Inclusion #Diversity #ALPFAPride #TransRightsAreHumanRights

Today (Friday 17 May) is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. This year’s theme is No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all. 🏳️🌈 There is no place at Team BSMHFT for people who choose to be prejudiced against LGBTQ+ people. As a Trust, we choose to be a No Hate Zone. This means that we all need to do whatever we can to counter discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, even when it is unintentional. Near 1,000 colleagues have taken the pledge, are an active supporter and proudly wear their pin badge to show solidarity. We also offer staff Active Bystander and Trans Awareness training. 📝 One of our five Staff Networks includes the LGBTQ+ Staff Network. As one of the longest running and active networks at the Trust, we encourage both members and allies to join and promote equity, acceptance and inclusion within the Trust. Celebrating events, engendering real change and providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ staff. We are always open to more members and those who wish to learn more. 💙 Meet our Network Chair – Maddy! “Hi all, I’m Maddy. I’m the current Chair of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network. I work as an Assistant Psychologist at Solihull Early Intervention Service. I love my role and geek out on anything psychology! As the Chair of the Network, I’m supported by Bethany Gallagher and the EDI team, in chairing meetings, representing the Network at different events and leading on projects involving the network. Being part of the network has helped me to feel much more connected to other staff members and community members within the Trust. I believe the network creates a safe place for members to speak openly and share difficult experiences, whilst also holding space to celebrate our rich and colourful history. It also acts as a reminder that queer people (and allies) are here and our voices matter!” Our team of mental health professionals have compiled a list of local and regional organisations that are available to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of LBGTQ+ people in the community. Please see our website for more information. 👉 https://ow.ly/XRgK50RH746 #IDAHOBIT2024 #NoHateZone

Implementation of "No Judgement Zone" (N.J.Z.)! Our initiative is dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of gender identity and sexual orientation among young people. Here's what we're planning: International Piloting: Successfully conducted with the involvement of young educators, youth workers, and volunteers from partner organizations. We had 5 educators/trainers per country/partner join us on this journey. Local Activities: Implemented in each partner country, these activities will engage 15 young LGBTQIA+ individuals per country. We aim to create a supportive and empowering environment for all participants. Multiplier Events: Each partner country will host one event with the participation of 30 individuals, including members of the general public, the queer community, and key stakeholders. These events will help spread awareness and foster a more inclusive society. Join us in creating a #NoJudgementZone and making a positive impact on our communities! #YouthEmpowerment #GenderIdentity #Inclusion #PositiveChange #AwarenessMatters #EqualityForAll #LoveIsLove #EndDiscrimination

It's #PrideMonth however within the ED, there are still a great many inequities faced by the LGBT+ community, particularly in healthcare. The transgender community is typically disproportionally affected by several of these issues. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWWE_u-F Alt Text: 41% of trans people, and 31% of non binary people, have faced hate crimes or incidents It is not unusual for a wait time of 4-5+ years, for an initial appointment at a Gender Identity Clinic 41% of trans people have felt that healthcare staff have had inadequate understanding of the health needs of the trans community 7% of LGBTQ+ patients have been refused care By normalising these conversations, healthcare environments can become a lot more comfortable and feel safer for the transgender community to be in Image Description: 1st slide is a video of a trans flag waving in the air. Other sides are still pictures of a trans flag, on a grey surface. Last slide is the RCEMLearning logo with two diagonal purple triangles.

National Coming Out Day-10/11 Another day, another thing to celebrate. Wednesday is National Coming Out Day (NCOD) in the U.S., a day meant to bring attention and support to members of the LGBTQIA+ community and the many ways they choose to share their identifies with the world. Celebrated annually on October 11th, this day commemorates the journey of self-discovery and the courage it takes to openly embrace one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. National Coming Out Day now stands as a beacon of support and acknowledgement for those who have bravely shared their authentic selves with the world. It is also a reminder that many individuals within LGBTQIA+ communities face ongoing challenges in the journey towards self-expression. The term "coming out" is abbreviated from the commonly used phrase "coming out of the closest," a metaphor used to describe the process of an LGBTQIA+ person revealing their identity to the people around them. While the term sounds like it refers to a single moment in time, being "out" can mean something different for everyone and often includes a longer process of accepting one's own identity before sharing with a chosen group of people and the world at large. References: https://lnkd.in/gdcSscwb     International Girl Child Day 2023: When is International Day of the Girl 10/11 International Girl Child Day 2023 Theme: The theme of International Day of the Girl 2023 is "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being," according to the official website of the United Nations. This year, at a time when we are seeing a range of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programs; there is an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential. References: https://lnkd.in/gXip-zyH https://lnkd.in/gUkDztxS