Advocacy

LEGISLATIVE AND STATE ADVOCACY

  • Community organizing for FreedomMA. Worked to uphold 2016 legislation which explicitly protects transgender people in public spaces like restaurants and hospitals — Question 3 on the 2018 MA Ballot (2016-2018).
  • Steering committee for FreedomMA. Worked to pass legislation extending explicit protections to transgender people in public spaces like restaurants and hospitals (2014-2016)
  • MA Department of Insurance, Testimony at the Listening Session on Transgender Health Coverage (Oct 2014)
  • MA State House: Ensuring Access to Safe Health Care for LGBTQ Youth – Informational Briefing (with Dr. Carole Allen and Dr. Ralph Vetters, April 2014)
  • MA State House, Testimony for the Equal Access Bill (July 2013)
  • MA State House, Ensuring Safe Schools for LGBTQ Students – Informational Briefing (April 2013)
  • MA Department of Education, Testimony on the DESE Guidance on “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity” (March 2013)

MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

  • Please Stand with Us, Chapter 15, “Cultural Sensitivity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health,” editor Dr. Ranna Parekh, Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry, MGH Psychiatry Academy, Boston, MA (June 21, 2016)
  • Transgender Non-Conforming Youth: One experience of Many, American Psychiatric Association Blog

MEDICAL ADVOCACY

  • First Event, Youth and Family Program, Organizer and Moderator, “Blockers, Hormones, Medical Procedures – What is Best for My Trans Child?” Medical Panel, (2018 – 2016).
  • First Event, Youth and Family Program, Organizer and Moderator, “Resources to Help Your Child and Family with Emotional Support.” Mental Health Medical Panel, (2018 – 2016).
  • Tufts Medical Center, Pediatric Grand Rounds, “Supporting Transgender Youth and Their Families: What I would like my Health Provider to Know,” (May 3, 2017)
  • McLean Hospital “Looking at Language” Speaker, Diversity and Inclusion Series with GBPFLAG (April 2017)
  • First Event, Youth and Family Program, Organizer and Moderator, “Blockers, Hormones, Medical Procedures – What is Best for My Trans Child?” Medical Panel, (January 2017)
  • First Event, Youth and Family Program, Organizer and Moderator, “Resources to Help Your Child and Family with Emotional Support.” Mental Health Medical Panel, (January 2017)
  • American Psychiatric Association (APA) Washington DC, Speaker series “Diversity at Work” (July 2016)
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Health Equity Round-table on Transgender Health (March 2016)
  • First Event, Transgender Youth Medical Care, Health Insurance and Medical Information with Dr. Jeremi Carswell (Jan 2016 )
  • MetroWest Medical Center, Transgender Cultural Competency with GBPFLAG (Dec 2015)
  • Westwood Lodge, Supporting Trans Youth MGH (May 2015)
  • MGH Harvard Medical School Shared Decision Making Team Joint Committee with Dept. of Health Decision Sciences Center and Dept. of Psychiatry ( April 2015)
  • Neighborhood Health Plan Diversity Committee. (Feb 2015)
  • MGH Student Training on Gender with Melanie Cohn-Hopwood, LICSW
  • (Dec 2014)
  • McLean Hospital: LGBTQ Youth Day Workshop, “Supportive Families, Healthy Children: Helping Families with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Children.” (Oct 2014)
  • Mass General Hospital, of Psychiatry Diversity Center (with Dr. Ranna Parekh May 2014)
  • McLean Hospital: Arlington School at Mclean Hospital – (with Dr. Michael Leslie, April 2014 )
  • MA State House: Ensuring Access to Safe Health Care for LGBTQ Youth – Informational Briefing (with Dr. Carole Allen and Dr. Ralph Vetters, April 2014)
  • McLean Hospital, Adolescent Residential Treatment (with Dr. Michael Leslie, March 2014)
  • McLean Hospital Social Workers Meeting (with Dr. Michael Leslie, Dec 2013)
  • McLean Hospital: Hill Center for Women (with Dr. Michael Leslie, Dec 2013)
  • Mass General Hospital Pediatric Grand Rounds (with Dr. Carol Allen, Nov 2013)
  • Cambridge Hospital, Pediatrician/Nurses Training (with Dr. Ellen Perrin, March 2011 )
  • Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Practicing Pediatricians’ Conference (with Dr. Ellen Perrin, Dec 2010 )

MEDICAL CONFERENCES/EVENTS ATTENDED

  • Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Fenway Institute (Sep 2016)
  • Transgender Health Access Training, Health Law Advocates at Fenway Health (Feb 2016)
  • First Event, Healthcare of Trans Youth for Parents Dr. Ralph Vetters (Jan 2016 )
  • Gender Conference East, Professional Symposium (Nov 2015)
  • Boston Children’s Hospital Gender Management Service (Gems) 2nd And 3rd Annual Family Conference (April 2014 and 2015)
  • MGH Dept. of Psychiatry Grand Rounds Diagnosis and Treatment of Gender Dysphoria: An Introduction for Behavioral Health Clinicians” March 2015
  • McLean Hospital Grand Rounds and LGBTQ Youth Day, Oct 2014
  • Tufts Medical Center Grand Rounds, Sep 2014
  • Boston Children’s Hospital Gender Management (GeMs) Family Conference, March 2014
  • McLean Hospital“ Grand Rounds, Launch of LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative, Oct 2013
  • Mass General Hospital Pediatric Grand Rounds, Supporting LGBTQ Youth and their Parents Nov 2013
  • “Working with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth and Families.” Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP) March 2013
  • WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Conference, Atlanta 2011
  • Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference 2008 and 2010

EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY

  • First Event “Autobiographical Poetry for LGBTQ Youth” Workshop Leader. (January 2017)
  • Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado Boulder (April 2016) Panelist on: Gender Fluidity; Traditional Families: Going, Gone, Gone; ABCs of LGBTQ; The Cost of Bias in the Nation; Poetry Reading: Words, words, words; Arts and Healing: Words that Hurt, Words that Heal.
  • Pinewood – The American International School of Thessaloniki, Greece (December 2015)
  • Lesley University, Gender Studies English Class (December 2015)
  • McLean Hospital Arlington School – (April 2014)
  • Acton High School, 8 Health classes with Students (March 2014)
  • Newton County Middle School, Faculty Training (November 2013)
  • Wellesley Hardy Elementary School, Faculty Training (August 2013)
  • Tufts University – LGBT House (April 2013)
  • Department of Education Testimony on The DESE guidance on Nondiscrimination on the basis of Gender Identity, Malden MA (March 2013) Beverly,
  • MA Equity Coordinators Training (March 2013)
  • Interscholastic Athletic Association, High School Faculty Members, Coaches (February 2013)
  • Melrose Middle School, Faculty Training (October 2012)
  • Melrose Elementary School School, Faculty Training (Sep 2012)
  • Dartmouth High School, Faculty Training (October 2012)

AFFILIATIONS

  • Tufts Medical Center, Facilitator for Support group for parents of young gender non-conforming children at Tufts Medical Center, (2018)
  • Greater Boston PFLAG Parent Support Group Facilitator (2012-2023)
  • Greater Boston PFLAG Helpline Volunteer (2012-2023)
  • MA Trans-health coalition Member
  • McLean Hospital, Board of Visitors
  • TYFA national parent support group member since 2006
  • Dr. Ellen Perrin’s support group for parents of young gender non-conforming children at Tufts Medical Center, member (2006-2014)