Advancing Transgender Rights: Social Work Advocacy Through Policy, Practice, and Education

Описание: In this video, we discuss the urgent need for social workers to advocate for transgender rights and provide support for transgender and gender-expansive individuals. As social workers, we are obligated to challenge social injustice, address social problems, and respect the inherent dignity of every person according to the NASW Code of Ethics.

Discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals leads to gender-identity hate crimes that disproportionately affect people of color, particularly Black transgender women. To support gender minorities, social workers can support them through:

Policy advocacy: Advocate for transgender equality and protection legislation at the local and state levels by contacting elected officials, participating in protests, or joining advocacy organizations that work on transgender issues.

Self-reflection: Interrogate our personal values and biases to ensure we are not perpetuating transphobia, queerphobia, interphobia, or other forms of oppression of gender minorities.

Stay educated: Learn about transgender and gender-expansive communities to combat stigmatization and victimization, such as attending workshops, reading relevant literature, and collaborating with transgender-led organizations.

Focus on allyship: Engage in allyship and community building by working with and alongside transgender individuals and organizations to create systemic change through community involvement, volunteering, and supporting advocacy efforts.

Self-care: Acknowledge the emotional toll that supporting our clients can have on us as social workers, and prioritize self-care and self-reflection to sustain our advocacy efforts.

Let's stay committed to promoting social justice and human rights for all people, including transgender and gender-expansive individuals. #transgenderrights #socialjustice #genderminorities #socialwork #policyadvocacy #tdov

Recommended Reading:

Jama Shelton, G. P. M. / J. S. (2021). Social Work Practice with Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth (Third edition). Taylor and Francis.

Witt, H., & Medina-Martinez, K. (2022). Transgender rights & the urgent need for social work advocacy. Social Work in Public Health, 37(1), 28-32.

Human Rights Campaign. (2023). Fatal violence against the transgender and gender non-conforming community in 2022.