A message to the transgender members of our families, our communities and our workforce

Equity and social justice, Jeff Duchin, LGBTQ, Staff News, , , , 1 Comment

By Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer

Public Health – Seattle & King County, like the American Medical Association and other medical professional associations, supports the equal rights, privileges and freedom of all individuals and opposes discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, national origin or age.

We also believe, as the World Health Organization has stated, that every human being is entitled to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living a life in dignity, regardless of their race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, physical or mental disability, health status (including HIV/AIDS), sexual orientation and civil, political, social or other status.

For these reasons and more, we intend to work with our public health partners to strenuously oppose the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) considering an interpretation of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that bans sex discrimination in federally funded schools, that “would define sex as either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with.”  This proposal goes against biological and medical science and harms individual and public health.

As the American Public Health Association has stated, we recognize transgender and gender-nonconforming identities as valid and deserving of equal consideration and treatment. Inclusive policies and practices are critical, while policies and practices that exclude transgender and gender-nonconforming populations have a negative impact by permitting discrimination and reinforcing stigma.  Because transgender persons are more racially and ethnically diverse than the general population, they are especially vulnerable to health disparities, and stigmatization.

Public Health remains wholly committed to our goal of improving the health, safety, and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

Lee aquí la versión en español. 

One thought on “A message to the transgender members of our families, our communities and our workforce”

  1. As Co-Chairs of a Committee entitled Ethnic Awareness committee, we have been searching for a speaker to talk about transgender issues at Horizon House, a retirement community on First Hill in Seattle. We will provide all necessary details, if there is such a knowledgeable person in your department who could be available in the next few months.

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