Providing LGBTQ-Affirming Services

This webinar will explore the breadth of identities associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities, and how to utilize culturally competent language and behavior for working with LGBTQ consumers, clients, and patients. Participants will increase their knowledge of mental health stressors, social determinants of health, health care access, and legal and policy issues that impact LGBTQ communities. We will explore LGBTQ-affirming non-discrimination policies, practices, and systems for effective service provision. Interactive, solutions-oriented, and engaging, this webinar will provide opportunities for learning and problem solving at all knowledge levels.

Objectives: 

• Define terms, identities, and concepts associated with LGBTQ communities
• Utilize culturally appropriate language and behavior for working with LGBTQ people, and develop skills for apologizing appropriately when mistakes are made
• Identify systemic barriers to access for LGBTQ populations
• Identify key components of LGBTQ-affirming non-discrimination policies and practices
• Identify legal and policy issues that impact LGBTQ individuals and families
• Develop culturally competent best practices for working with LGBTQ and gender-expansive consumers and colleagues

Terms, identities, and concepts
Culturally competent language and behavior, and how to apologize appropriately when mistakes are made
Legal rights of LGBTQ consumers and legal responsibilities of entities that serve LGBTQ people
Systemic barriers for LGBTQ populations including social determinants of health, disparities, health care access, and legal and policy issues that impact LGBTQ communities

Equal access to restrooms, changing rooms, and other gender-specific settings
Non-discrimination policies and practices
Best practices for providing LGBTQ-affirming services

Do you want to get a better understanding of the LGBTQ community? Do you want to avoid complaints of mistreatment and LGBTQ-related discrimination? Is your company trying to figure out how to provide services on the phone, online, or in person without disrespecting the individual by addressing them with inappropriate gendered terms such as “ma’am,” “sir,” “Mr.” and “Mrs.”? Are you unsure about how to provide restroom access for LGBTQ individuals so that all staff and consumers feel comfortable? Businesses and organizations of all sizes are creating affirming service environments for LGBTQ individuals and families by demonstrating equal treatment through affirming practices, policies, and systems. This webinar will help you identify gaps in services, and develop skills for providing equal access for this marginalized community.

• Company leadership such as administrators, directors, CEOs, and others
• Program managers
• Supervisors
• Front-line staff
• Service providers
• Human resources staff
• Allies of LGBTQ consumers and employees
• LGBTQ employees who want to provide effective services 

Willy Wilkinson, MPH is an award-winning writer, public health consultant, cultural competency trainer, and public speaker who has been advocating for LGBTQ populations since the early days of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Over the past three decades, Willy has provided LGBTQ and trans-specific training for hundreds of community health organizations, educational institutions, and businesses. He is the author of the Lambda Literary Award-winning book Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: A Voice for Cultural Competency, which illuminates trans experience from a Chinese American and mixed heritage perspective, and transforms the memoir genre into a cultural competency tool. In his book, he provides organizational assessment tools for businesses to evaluate their LGBTQ cultural competency, and guidelines for systemically supporting LGBTQ individuals in the workplace. He has helped a number of companies, large and small, provide equal access to restrooms and changing rooms, support transitioning employees, and develop affirming practices and policies. Willy received a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies at UC Santa Cruz, and a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley. He is the recipient of a National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Award, and the Transgender Law Center Vanguard Award, and is recognized on the national Trans 100 list. He lives in Oakland, California with his three vibrant, young children.