WHAT: Transgender and gender nonconforming communities experience significant barriers attempting to access affirming health care, specifically with respect to body autonomy and gender self-determination.
In response, Howard Brown Health Center will bring together activists, organizers, youth workers, lawyers and LGBT health care advocates to discuss the collaboration occurring to transform existing health care impediments. The panelists will share their experiences and efforts for gender affirming trans health, legal services, youth-led organizing and transgender justice.
Panel Participants:
· Chaz Bono, LGBT rights advocate, author, speaker and the only child of famed entertainers Cher and Sonny Bono.
· Shira Hassan and C. Angel Torresrepresentatives of the Young Women's Empowerment Project (YWEP), a youth leadership organization grounded in harm reduction and social justice organizing by, and for, girls and young women (ages 12-23) impacted by the sex trade and street economies.
· Matty Rosado, Coordinator of TYRA (Transgender Youth, Resources, & Advocacy) and Lead Facilitator for TWISTA, an HIV prevention program for transgender women of color, facilitated by the Broadway Youth Center, a program of Howard Brown Health Center and community partners.
· Lois Bates, Transgender Health Manager at Howard Brown Health Center (THInC)
· Linda Wesp, Director of Adolescent Health at Howard Brown Health Center (THInC)
· Owen Daniel-McCarter, Esq. representative of the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois, providing free, zealous, life-affirming, and gender- affirming holistic criminal legal services
WHEN: Friday, May 6, 2011 — doors open at 9:30 a.m.; Program runs from 10 a.m. — noon
WHERE: Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago IL
RSVP: All are welcome to attend this free, public event. RSVP required to accommodate spacing.
For questions or replies, please contact Daisy Mertzel (773)572-5125,daisym@howardbrown.org .