Bulletin Board
Sex & Pizza
Tuesday Nights
YouthPride wants you to come out on Tuesday nights to watch episodes of Sex In the City, Queer As Folk, The “L” Word and Noah’s Arc and eat some pizza.
You have to be between the ages of 18 & 24 to participate; come out and have fun. 5:30-8:00PM @ the YouthPride Center.
For more information please call (404) 521-9711 ext. 203 or email John-Paul@YouthPride.org
The Sexual Health
Needs
of
Transgender Youth
By Elisabeth Wilhelm, 18, As young people, we have to deal constantly with a variety of health needs, from the ever-changing realities of our physical bodies to all the emotional issues around school, relationships, parents and careers. Sometimes, it seems pretty heavy.
Created by ParaDox Transgender Symbol But imagine what it's like for young people who identify as "transgender" —those who feel like their physical bodies don't match the gender they really feel inside. The matter gets even more complicated! Transgender (or trans) is an umbrella term that includes many gender- different people, including transsexuals, MTF (male-to-female), FTM (female-to male), cross-dressers and drag queens, to name a few. Organizations like the Boston Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth acknowledge that they don't know how many youth identify as transgender, but they suspect the number of youth who are able to speak more openly about their identities at a younger age is growing. Transgender youth have complicated health concerns and need sensitive primary care providers, mental health support, peer support and education. Unfortunately, there are still numerous roadblocks along the way to their proper health care. According to the 2001 National School Climate Survey, conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 90 percent of transgender youth feel unsafe in their schools because of their gender expression. Some trans youth begin to hate the feelings that they have inside. They feel shame, disgust and guilt, and find it hard to create a comfortable space for themselves in the world.
Finding Help
A good therapist can help young
people make sense of all the confusion
that comes with identifying as trans
and encourage them to see that they
are okay just as they are. They can
also help questioning young people
explore "gender adaptation" options,
such as cross-dressing or minor
cosmetic procedures, before they
commit to hormone therapy or
surgery.
YouthPride knows transgender youth,
need to find a therapist who is
knowledgeable about transgender
issues, who has worked with young
people and their families and who they
feel comfortable with. Talking about
sensitive areas of one's life requires
clients to trust their therapist. Feeling
comfortable with a therapist will
contribute to the building of trust.
It's also important for trans youth to
get support. Check out networks
like YouthResource and TransProud.
There they can read about legal rights,
medical options and connect with
other young trans people from around
the world.
A Sensitive and Caring Doctor is Key
No one really wants to go to the
doctor, right? For some transgender
youth the desire to avoid all things
clinical is pretty strong. Many face
ridicule and discrimination in hospitals
and clinics as they must deal with
practitioners who are often not
properly trained to handle their issues,
and who may have their own
prejudices against transgender
identities.
A caring and committed doctor is key for the survival of transgender youth, specifically those who are transitioning to a different gender. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association can refer youth to health professionals who are sensitive to transgender needs. Also, posting questions to members of the aforementioned websites that deal with transgender issues can produce good results.
