Visibility Matters
Transgender Basics
By Sarah Bahnson , LGBTQI+ Initiatives Specialist
just by making personal and social changes, but also may require medical interventions. A transition can include (but is not limited to) any of the following: • Name and pronoun changes • Changes in what one wears or how they present themselves • Hormone replacement therapies • Gender-affirming surgeries
Aging with Pride
So. AZ Senior Pride celebrating, supporting and uniting LGBTQI+ older adults (520) 312-8923; info@soazseniorpride.org There are many events each month, so check out our website: soazseniorpride.org Masks now optional for all in-person, indoor events it can cause psychological distress that requires some form of transition. That transition may be accomplished You may be one of many people who recently heard a news story regarding the transgender (trans) community. If you are one who even loosely follows the news, it’s a difficult topic to miss. Although there has been quite a lot of news coverage regarding trans issues, many remain confused about the fundamentals of transgender people. According to a recent Pew Research poll, 58% of Americans do not personally know a transgender person. At PCOA, one of our guiding principles of service is person-centered care, meaning we need to get to know those we serve to best meet the needs of our diverse community. In that spirit, we would like to share some basics about an oft-misunderstood group of folks. Trans is an umbrella term that describes people who do not feel their gender aligns with their sex assigned at birth. For many trans folks,
Book Club ; third Wednesday; 2–3:30pm; via Zoom Gathering in Himmel Park ; third Saturday; time varies; in-person Walk and Roll ; Enjoy an outdoor activity with friendly people; third Monday; time varies; in-person Community Potluck ; last Saturday; Noon-1:30pm; in-person which complicate aging care and services. At PCOA we seek to treat everyone with dignity and respect and are prepared to meet the unique needs of trans older adults and their families. For more information contact our Helpline at (520) 790-7262. Although the term “trans” is a 20th- century term, these experiences are in no way new. From ancient Greek and Roman cultures to Native American experiences, trans people can be seen across the globe and are, in some cultures, celebrated and elevated as holy people. In the United States, transgender older adults, because of a history of stigma and discrimination, are more likely to experience social isolation, are less likely to engage in health care, and are more vulnerable when advanced directives are not completed—all of
On-going events: Advance registration required to attend: soazseniorpride.org GBTQI+ Mens Loss Group ; weekly on Tuesday; 1:30–3pm; in-person LBTQI+ Women’s Grief Support ; weekly on Monday; Noon-1:30pm; in-person Gayme Day; second Tuesday; 1–3pm; in-person Trans identities span the course of human history. Dating back to as early as 5,000 BC, stories of trans people appear in a myriad of cultures represented on almost every continent.
Page 28 | September/October 2023, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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