2. Today’s Objectives
As a result of participating in today’s presentation, you
will be able to:
Recall terms and definitions relevant to transgender
lives and culture;
List health disparities experienced by transgender
persons;
Identify best practices for providing clinical services to
transgender persons.
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12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
3. Today’s Agenda
Words, Definitions, Language Usage
Transgender Health Disparities
Health Policy & Research Update
Best Practice Tips
Open Q & A
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4. Intentions vs. Impact 4
12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
5. Words, Definitions, Language Use
Talking Trans
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6. Sex, Gender, Sexual Orientation 6
12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
SEX
(biological)
• CHROMOSOMES
• GENITALIA
• REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
• SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS
GENDER
(psychosocial)
• IDENTITY: SELF-CONCEPT AS MALE /
FEMALE / OTHER
• EXPRESSION: COMMUNICATING YOUR
GENDER TO OTHERS
• ATTRIBUTION: WHAT OTHERS PERCEIVE
AND RESPOND TO
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
(biological &
psychosocial)
• EROTIC & EMOTIONAL ATTRACTION TO
OTHERS
7. Let’s Talk About Pronouns!
Binary pronouns
She, her, hers and he, him, his
(Xena ate her food because she was hungry.)
Common gender-neutral pronouns :
They, them, theirs
(Xena ate their food because they were hungry.)
Ze, hir
(Xena ate hir food because ze was hungry.)
Just use my name!
(Xena ate Xena's food because Xena was hungry)
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12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
8. HIV Disparities in
Transgender Populations
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9. How many trans people are there?
Worldwide estimates
25 millions people1
Estimates range 0.1% - 3%
United States estimates
1.4 million people
0.6% of the population
Baltimore estimates
1,250 people (Wisdom of the Crowd)
912 (Service Multiplier Method)
1. Winter et al. The Lancet 2016;
2. Williams Institute 2016
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10. New HIV Positive Tests among
Trans People, 2009-2011
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New HIV+ test results highest in
trans people
2.4% among trans people
0.9% cis males & 0.2% cis females
Gender trajectory matters
2.7% trans feminine
0.5% trans masculine
New HIV+ highest in trans women
of color
54% African American
30% Hispanic/Latina
3-fold increase in new HIV+ tests
in trans women at 20 years
Habarta N, Wang G, Mulatu MS, et al. HIV testing by transgender status at centers for disease control and prevention-funded sites in
the United States, Puerto Rico, and us Virgin Islands, 2009–2011. Am J Public Health. 2015;105:1917–1925.
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
Cis Male Cis Female Trans
Female
Trans Male
13-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+
11. HIV Prevalence: Trans Masculine
Systematic review (2012-2015)
6 U.S. prevalence studies
0.4% - 4.3% (n=1)
0.00%
0.50%
1.00%
1.50%
2.00%
2.50%
3.00%
3.50%
4.00%
4.50%
5.00%
Laboratory Confirmed HIV Prevalence
Poteat et al. JAIDS 2016
Transgender MSM risk from cisgender
male partners
“I took a certain
pleasure in
informing the
gender clinic that
even though their
program told me
that I could not
live like a gay
man, it looks like
I’m going to die
like one.”
— Lou Sullivan, gay
trans activist, 1951-
1991
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12. Global meta-analysis of laboratory-confirmed HIV
(2000-11)
United States: 22% prevalence
34-fold greater than the general population
Systematic review and data synthesis (2012-2015)
Highest: 40% among trans women of color
Lowest: 4.5% in youth (16-24 years old)
Incidence estimate: 2.9 per 100 person-
years
Baral et al. TLID 2013, Poteat et al. JAIDS 2016
Alexis Rivera, transgender activist
Died from HIV at age 34 (2012)
Trans women who have sex with men have the
highest HIV burden of any key population
HIV Prevalence: Trans Feminine
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13. Context Matters
Why such high HIV prevalence
among trans women? 13
12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
14. Stigma is a Barrier to Care-Seeking
Delay getting health care due to
experiences of discrimination
28% delayed care when ill or injured
33% delayed or did not try to get preventive
care
Anticipate discrimination in health care
52% fear they will be refused care
73% worry they will be treated differently
89% feel that too few health care
professionals are adequately trained to
provide appropriate care for them
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. Grant 2011, Lambda Legal 2010
15. Stigma is a Barrier to Care Provision
Denial of medical care
19% in a US survey of 6450
27% in a US survey of 617
Uninformed providers
50% had to teach their medical provider
about transgender care
Discrimination from a provider
70% experienced some kind of
mistreatment, eg. providers
Refused to touch them/excessive precautions
(15%)
Blamed them for health status (20%)
Used harsh/abusive language (21%)
Were physically rough (8%)
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Grant 2011, Lambda Legal 2010
17. Changing Gender/Sex on Identity
Documents
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Document Government
Level
Criteria
Birth certificate State Sworn statement from a healthcare practitioner stating you
have received treatment appropriate to change sex or have
been diagnosed with an intersex condition.
Driver’s License/ID
Card
State 3 letters: self, treating physician, treating psychotherapist
stating intention to undergo gender transition.
US Passport Federal A physician statement that validates that you have either
completed or are in process of treatment for gender
transition.
Social Security
Record
Federal • Full-validity, 10-year U.S. passport showing the new
gender;
• State-issued amended birth certificate showing the new
gender;
• Court order directing legal recognition of change of
gender; or
• Medical certification of appropriate clinical treatment for
gender transition in the form of an original letter from a
licensed physician.
18. LGBTQ Civil Rights - Maryland
Maryland state law prohibits discrimination in employment,
housing, credit and lending, and public accommodations based
on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Anti-Discrimination Act of 2001 (Sexual Orientation)
Fairness for All Marylanders Act, 2013 (Gender Identity and
Expression)
Maryland public schools are prohibited from discriminating
against students based on sexual orientation or gender
identity/expression.
They must also adhere to a statewide bullying and harassment
prevention policy that is inclusive of bias based on real or perceived
sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
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19. Reversing Decades of Health
Care Discrimination
From Maryland Insurance Administration, Bulletin 15-33, December 10, 2015
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The formerly permissible exclusion which reads
“treatment leading to or in connection with
transsexualism, or sex changes or modifications,
including, but not limited to surgery,” which is
found on pages B49 and B50 of the 2017 benchmark
plan and originally permitted by COMAR
31.11.06.06B(32), is required to be deleted as
federal guidance has determined that this type of
exclusion is a discriminatory benefit design
prohibited by 45 CFR § 156.200(e).
Small Employer Essential Health Benefits, item 12, page 6.
20. HHS Final Rule on Sec. 1557
Issued May 13, 2016 : Effective July 18, 2016
Provides protections based on race, color, national origin, sex,
age, and disability. Protections for LGBT people come under
the category of sex discrimination, which includes gender
identity and sex stereotyping.
Applies to all federally-supported health programs and most
health insurance and coverage, including Medicaid, Medicare,
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP), and individual
insurance plans purchased through a state or federal health
exchange.
Beneficiaries cannot “be excluded for participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to
discrimination under any health program or activity to which
[the rule] applies.”
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Affordable Care Act Fact Sheet: What the Section 1557 regulations banning
discrimination based on gender identity mean for you. Transgender Law Center, 2016
21. New Rules: Collection of SOGI
Data
ACA contains language supporting the collection of sexual
orientation and gender identity data, to further research
to end health disparities (Sec. 4302).
HHS issued new rules on Oct. 6, 2015 that require
collection of SOGI data in clinical settings in EHRs
(effective 2018).
CMS and ONC-IT requires EHRs to allow users to record,
change, and access structured data on sexual
orientation and gender identity.
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to a job near you…
23. 12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2015 U.S. Transgender Survey 23
James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). Executive Summary of the Report of the
2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality.
32%
8%
limited consumption of food or drink to
avoid having to use public restrooms
had a urinary
tract infection,
kidney infection,
or other kidney
problem in past
year from
avoiding
restrooms 25%
55%
health insurance
refused to cover
transition-related
surgery
experienced a problem in the past year
with their insurance related to being
transgender (denial of gender related
care as well as routine care)
N = 27,715
25. Insert palm card here
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26. STROBE Study: Supporting Transgender
Research and Opportunity in the
Baltimore Environment
Funded by the Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research
http://www.strobebaltimore.com
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27. Baltimore Trans Community
Needs Assessment
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www.baltimore
btcstudy.com
Funded by the
Johns Hopkins
Urban Health
Institute
28. Count Me In, Maryland!
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Opened Sept. 2015
109 Responses with Data
0.% 10.% 20.% 30.% 40.% 50.% 60.% 70.%
Feminine
Masculine
Genderqueer
Agender
Two Spirit
Additional
Percentage
Percentage
29. Transgender-Inclusive HIV
Surveillance
Voluntary “Change Your Record”
Secured online site
Form allows changes to multiple data variables
Separate collection of Sex at Birth and Current Gender
Paper version will also be available
Local health departments
HIV Clinics
Targeted Health Provider Re-Report
Request update of Sex at Birth and Current Gender for HIV caseload
Educational component over summer (videos, webinars)
Community
Health providers
Implementation
Pilot late 2016
Statewide roll-out early spring 2017
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30. Best Practice Tips
For serving lgbtq clients
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12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
31. Ally Skills
Deep listening
Embracing being “wrong”
Removing barriers
Educating other cisgender people
Interrupting homophobia/transphobia
Patient advocacy
Getting out of the way
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12/16/2016Infectious Disease Prevention and Health Services Bureau & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
32. Trans-Affirming Clinic
Environments
Avoid Ma’am, Sir, Mr/Mrs/Ms
Use gender neutral forms of address
Written gender-neutral salutation is Mx.
Use 2-step process to determine gender identity at
intake
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EXAMPLE NEXT SLIDE
33. Example: Two-Step Gender
Question
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1. What is your current gender identity? (Check and/or circle ALL that apply)
☐ Male
☐ Female
☐ Transgender Male/Transman/FTM
☐ Transgender Female/Transwoman/MTF
☐ Genderqueer
☐ Additional category (please specify): ________________________________
☐ Decline to answer
2. What sex were you assigned at birth? (Check one)
☐ Male
☐ Female
☐ Decline to answer
UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health. 2016. Available at
http://www.transhealth.ucsf.edu/trans?page=lib-data-collection
34. Trans-Affirming Clinic
Environments
Do not assume gender identity or sexual orientation
How do I know which pronoun to use
(eg, he, she, they)?
Ask politely
What is the presenting gender?
Echo the language you hear
Make an effort to use the correct pronoun consistently
Anatomical terms – what words to use
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35. Trans-Affirming Clinic
Environments
Use preferred pronouns and name
Ask for patient preference, in private, if unsure
Include preferred name on chart and train staff
Defer unnecessary questions and exams
Build rapport before performing genital exams
Avoid satisfying your curiosity
Conduct sensitive genital exams only when
necessary
Always explain the purpose of the exam
Use gender neutral terms
Ask patients what words they prefer
Acknowledge barriers and offer solutions
Stress of stigma and discrimination
Limitations of medical knowledge
Offer to find out and get back to patient
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36. Improving the HIV Continuum for Trans
Women
Barriers to Engagement & Retention in HIV Care
Avoidance due to stigma and past negative experiences
Prioritization of hormone therapy
Concerns about interactions between HIV meds and hormones
Facilitators of Engagement & Retention in Care
Providers knowledgeable about trans-related medical issues
Able to provide and integrate hormone therapy and HIV care
All staff respectful and sensitive to trans issues (eg. IDs)
Correlates of Adherence and Viral Load
Less stress due to trans discrimination (adherence and VL)
Adherence to hormone therapy (adherence)
Sevelius, Ann Behv Med, 2014; Sevelius, AIDS Care, 2014
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37. Gender Affirmation and HIV
Care
Top 5 Health Concerns of HIV+ trans people,
in order
1. Gender-affirming and non-discriminatory care
2. Hormone therapy and side effects
3. Mental health care, including trauma
4. Personal care, eg. nutrition
5. Antiretroviral therapy and side effects
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Deutsch 2015 (preliminary
self-report data presented
at NHPC); Positively Trans
Survey, n = 157
TW whose HIV primary care provider is also their hormone prescriber,
more likely to:
Have an undetectable viral
Have an HIV primary care visit in the previous 6 months
38. Transgender Response Team
If you share our vision of a Maryland where new HIV
infections are rare, and where transgender and
gender nonconforming children, adolescents, adults,
and their families, participate fully as equal citizens
in safe, supportive communities where culturally and
linguistically responsive services and supports are
available, accessible, and appropriate, then join us!
To find out how, contact:
Jean-Michel Brevelle
Sexual Minorities Program Manager
Prevention and Health Promotion Administration
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
500 North Calvert Street, 5th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 767.5016 Office
jean-michel.brevelle@maryland.gov Email
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https://sites.google.com/site/trtnetwork/
39. Transgender Action Group
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Coalition of transpeople, service
providers, non-profits, and
volunteers organized in Fall 2012,
meetings 2nd Thurs @ noon
Outreach to trans sex workers
every 2nd and 4th Fridays, 12-4AM
Provides
Legal services
Housing and employment counseling
Safer sex materials and information
Referrals for HIV testing and other
services
http://www.tagoutreach.net
41. Please fill
out and
turn in your
evaluations
Don’t
hesitate to
contact us
if you have
questions.
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Tonia Poteat, PhD, PA-C, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
tpoteat@jhu.edu
Jean-Michel Brevelle
Sexual Minorities Program Manager
Center for HIV/STI Integration & Capacity
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
jean-michel.brevelle@maryland.gov