Public health consultant and LGBTQ activist Willy Wilkinson, and clinical counselor Deanna Lovino will be leading a free training workshop on providing equal Access for transgender and gender non-conforming populations.
The free cultural competency training will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Monday at the University of North Florida's Student Ballroom.
The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center is teaming up with theUNF Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, Partnership for Child Health, Goldbauer Photografie and Children’s Home Society to highlight best practices for providing equal access for trans and gender nonconforming populations in community health, social service, and juvenile detention settings.
To discuss this free training workshop, Wilkinson and Lovino spoke with Melissa Ross on Friday’s episode of First Coast Connect.
“We will talk about the various terms and concepts associated with this population, and how to show respect with helpful, keep in mind, interactions,” Wilkinson said.
The workshop is ideal for social workers, therapists, nurses, attorneys, child welfare workers and service providers working with the transgender population, however anyone who wishes to learn more about transgender issues are encouraged to come, he said.
Struggling as an adolescent with trying to find his own gender identity, Wilkinson said he was scrutinized by society. Eventually finding his voice and his true gender identity, Wilkinson became a public consultant who now helps community health organizations, businesses, and educational institutions improve access for the LGBTQ people.
“I think the first piece is to understand trans people are human beings that deserve equal rights like everybody else," he said.
Wilkinson’s award winning book, “Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: A Voice for Cultural Competency,” looks at the historical journey of the transgender community.
With transgender issues currentlyin the media, Wilkinson believes that this workshop is not only informational, but can also help promote discussion about the subject.
