Blue Shield of California: Becoming a Trans Ally

Thanks for participating in the panel presentation on creating and engaging trans allies at Blue Shield of California. On this page, you’ll find additional resources from PFLAG and Straight for Equality to expand your learning — and hopefully help answer any questions that you may have.

You can also reach out to Jean-Marie Navetta at [email protected] with additional questions.

PFLAG Resources:

• guide to being a trans ally
  This guide will help you learn more about what transgender means, develop competency around talking about the issue, become better informed about the challenges that many trans people face, and know specific ways that you can be a strong trans ally.
   
• As a trans ally I will…
  Use these postcards as part of an event to show people how to be better trans allies. The card can also be used as a part of a social media campaign and is a great way to get a conversation started.
   
• Our Trans Loved Ones
  Download this free guide (PDF) from PFLAG to get the basics on what being transgender means, how to talk about it, and how to find the resources that can support you and your family. Also available in Spanish!
   
• Find a PFLAG Chapter
  There are more than 350 PFLAG chapters across the U.S. Find one near you right now.
   
• Support for Transgender People and Their Families
  For decades, PFLAG has been proud to be a resource for transgender and gender non-conforming people, their families, and friends. Find information on how to better support a loved one as they move along their journey, and to help further your own understanding of your loved one’s gender identity or expression.

External Resources:

• The National Center for Transgender Equality
  NCTE is a 501(c)3 social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration and empowerment.
   
• The Transgender Law Center
  The Transgender Law Center works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. We envision a future where gender self-determination and authentic expression are seen as basic rights and matters of common human dignity.
   
• GLAAD Transgender Resources
  As media representation of transgender individuals and the issues they face improves, it is important that that we all have an understanding of the facts and common misrepresentations surrounding trans people. GLAAD works to ensure fair coverage and portrayal of people who are transgender in the media.
   
• The Task Force: Transgender Resources
  The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1974, works to build the grassroots political power of the LGBT community to win complete equality.

Data and Research:

• WPATH
  Download the World Proffessional Association for Transgender Health’s 7th version of their Standards of Care for the health of transexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people which was released in 2012.
   
• 2015 US Transgender Survey
  Download the report commissioned by the National Center for Transgender Equality in 2015 to identify the issues and challenges faced by transgender and gender nonconforming people in their communities.
   
• Strong Majorities of Americans Favor Rights and Legal Protections for Transgender People
  Check out research conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2011 that found that strong majorities of Americans favor rights and legal protections for transgender and gender nonconforming people and their families.
   
• Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage and the Corporate Equality Index
  Download this document, developed by The Human Rights Campaign, that provides basic information about developing and acquiring transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage to help companies score a 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index in 2012 – the first year such coverage was required.