[ASK the advocate] Staying true to yourself while staying safe

Join FORGE and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Inclusion Health Clinic for an opportunity to ask questions and engage with professionals serving the trans/non-binary community.

Topic:

Staying true to yourself while staying safe: Gender expression in the age of COVID-19

In our world of social distancing, face masks, working from home, and other shifts in our day-to-day lives, trans and non-binary people are often struggling with how to stay safe AND how to continue to present our gender in ways that feel true and affirming.  Are you worried that wearing a face mask will change how people perceive your gender?  (Wonder about how to get lipstick off of your cloth mask?!)  Are you concerned about your gender expression if you need to stop binding for a while to give your lungs a bit more breathing room?  We’ll talk about how gender cues might shift and how our gender expression may morph as we adjust to our own health and the safety mandates offered by the CDC and others. Bring and share your own discoveries.

Presenters:  Joanna Woodbury and Shelley Gregory

Joanna Woodbury

Joanna Woodbury is an experienced Certified Social Worker and has worked in HIV care since 2007.  She serves as the Social Services Program Manager overseeing social work, mental health and pharmacy services provided in the Inclusion Health and Infectious Disease Clinics. Joanna has a strong passion for leadership, medical social work, HIV care and prevention, and LGBTQ affirming healthcare.

Shelley Gregory (they/them or any pronouns)

Shelley is a trans human, activist, and advocate, and the Strategic Project Coordinator for FORGE. Shelley has worked actively in the LGBTQI+ community for over 25 years and began to focus their work on advocacy for transgender and non-binary folx nearly two decades ago. Their background is as a civil rights lawyer. Shelley continually aims to contribute to improving quality of life for trans and non-binary individuals and increasing our inclusion in society. Shelley presently assists survivors of violence through individual advocacy and peer support, as well as policy development and public education.

.

About ASK events:

ASK the Expert events are open periods of regularly scheduled time (Tuesdays from 6-7:00pm and Saturdays from 1-2:00pm) where you can ask questions to health care providers, mental health professionals, social workers, advocates, and lawyers.

Initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, questions and topics discussed may focus on medical issues, mental health concerns, coping skills, access to public benefits, links to resources, where and how to access support. Each session will have a broad focus within these areas. Come with your questions. Sit back. Or lean in.

If you miss the live events, they’ll be recorded!

All ASK events will have an ASL interpreter.  Please reach out with any access needs.

—

PACT NOW = Preventing and Assisting with COVID-19 among Trans and Non-binary Wisconsinites.  PACT NOW is a partnership between FORGE and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Inclusion Health Clinic.

This project is funded by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin.