Competent Care for Transgender, GenderQueer and Off-the-Binary Folks (Audio)

The following audio presentation was recorded live at the 13th International Herb Symposium, June 2017.

Transgender and non-binary people encounter frequent difficulties when working with health care providers who lack sufficient cultural awareness or training. What can we do to offer welcoming and competent care for these clients? This won’t be about “herbs for transition,” but will focus on increasing gender literacy: how to practice, teach, write, and live as an ally to people of all gender identities, and how to proceed when we inevitably mis-step. Topics will include inclusive thinking and language, with consideration for cross-cultural work; informed consent in largely uncharted clinical waters; figuring out herb-hormone interactions; using herbs for surgery support and beyond (and, yes, a few herbs for gender affirmation). This class was be co-taught with Vilde Chaya Fenster-Ehrlich, clinical herbalist and teacher at Stonefruit Community Herbalists and co-director of the Lake Effect Free Alternative Health Clinic, which runs a monthly free clinic for Cleveland’s LGBTQI2-S community.

Please note that all courses and lessons from the 13th International Herb Symposium are audio only. Transcriptions are unavailable at this time.