Trans and Nonbinary Youth Recap: Pathways Forward
Trans and Nonbinary Youth Recap: Pathways Forward
On June 5th, in celebration of Pride Month, we held another Pathways Forward conversation to educate our community about supporting trans and nonbinary youth. Learn more about the challenges faced by this community in our recent blogpost.
The conversation was moderated by Brit (YWCA Spokane Licensed Therapist) and featured panelists Logan (YWCA Spokane Legal Advocate) and Maggie (Odyssey Youth Movement Programs Manager).
Brit works in the Mental Health Department at YWCA Spokane. She identifies as queer and is passionate about about helping people heal and making the world a better, more equitable place for everyone.
Maggie is the Programs Manager at Odyssey Youth Movement. They have over 7 years of experience working with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults both as a professional and as a peer.
As a Legal Advocate, Logan guides survivors of domestic violence through the legal system, which includes supporting them through criminal cases and assisting on protection orders. "As a trans person, I'm honored to speak at this event for trans youth because our voices matter, our stories are powerful and our futures are worth fighting for," says Logan.
Key Takeaways
- Safe spaces allow members of all marginalized communities to exist as themselves. Brave spaces go a step further allowing individuals to show up authentically without explanation or justification of their identity.
- Allies can build safe/brave spaces by amplifying trans voices and visibly signaling their support.
- Pride has always been a protest! Stay protesting and be politically active; engaging in local politics is an effective avenue to build protections for trans youth.
- It is not our job as adults to change trans youth "but to support them in being exactly who they have always known themselves to be," says Logan.
- Continuing to educate ourselves allows us to show up in the best way possible for the trans community without relying on trans individuals to provide the emotional labor of constantly having to educate friends and family about their identity.
Resources
- Odyssey Youth Movement is a drop-in center for queer and trans youth.
- Rainbow Alphabet Collective offers a directory of queer and trans affirming healthcare providers and information.
- INBA is a collection of LGBTQ+ friendly businesses in Spokane.
- Spectrum Center provides intersectional LGBTQ+ community in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
- Trans Legislation Tracker
- ACLU Guide for Trans Students
- Spokane Zine Fest
Join Us for Pride
March with YWCA Spokane on June 14th and visit our booth during Pride festivities in downtown Spokane.
About Pathways Forward
Pathways Forward is a online webinar series that allows YWCA Spokane to engage in progress-minded discussions with local experts on various topics related to our work and mission. Each discussion invites a real-time dialog between the panel and our community that is focused on identifying ways we can move forward together.
By: Chloe Bolz
Share:
Categories:
Related Posts
Challenges for Trans and Nonbinary Youth
Join us for Pathways Forward, a free virtual roundtable discussion where local experts will share insights on promoting equitable inclusion for trans and nonbinary youth. Ahead of this discussion, let’s deepen our understanding about the challenges trans youth experience. Register for Pathways June 5th | Noon – 1PM | Online…
Supporting Youth Recap: Pathways Forward
On February 27, as part of our Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) campaign, we held another Pathways Forward discussion to educate our community on the impact of teen dating violence and the unique needs of youth survivors. This conversation was moderated by Chloe Bolz (YWCA Prevention Specialist) and featured Maribel…