Diversity Rules Magazine

16 | Diversity Rules Magazine| May 2023 Trans - Con't from page 15 Alabama and Arkansas. "These bans are already having devasta ng impacts on Florida families," said Simone Chriss, Director of Transgender Rights Ini a ve, Southern Legal Coun- sel. "Transgender adolescents are being denied ac- cess to cri cal medical care, and parents are being forced to sit by and watch their children suffer pre- ventable harm. The Florida Medical Boards and Sur- geon General have not only failed to fulfill their own duty to protect the health and wellbeing of transgen- der youth in this state, but they have also blocked the parents of those youth from exercising their fun- damental right to do so." "Florida parents are now in the unthinkable posi- on of not being able to provide essen al health- care for their kids," said Jennifer Levi, Senior Direc- tor of Transgender and Queer Rights, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. "Because of this ban which ignores decades of clinical research, parents of trans- gender adolescents have been stripped of their right to make informed decisions about their kids' medical care." "Florida has crossed a dangerous line by le ng this ban go into effect," said Shannon Minter, Legal Di- rector of the Na onal Center for Lesbian Rights. "Parents, not the government, should be in charge of direc ng their children's healthcare. The state of Florida is interfering with family privacy and deci- sion-making and children and parents are suffering because of it." "Every day this ban is in place is hur ng transgen- der kids and their families," Sarah Warbelow, Human Rights Campaign Legal Director. "Like any parent, parents of transgender children want to do what's best for their kids, but Florida has taken that right away from them. Instead, the state is targe ng fami- lies with a cruel and unscien fic policy that is pu ng transgender kids' health at risk." Through strategic li ga on, public policy advocacy, and educa on, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) works to create a just society free of discrimi- na on based on gender iden ty and expression, HIV status, and sexual orienta on. www.glad.org Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC) is a Florida state- wide not-for-profit public interest law firm that is commi ed to the ideal of equal jus ce for all and the a ainment of basic human and civil rights. SLC's Trans - Con't on page 19 Change - Con't from page 13 beginning can start, which brings new possibili es and opportuni es. 3. Percep on- How you perceive change will help you through the process. Most of us fear change, that is completely normal, but do you let fear paralyze you? Some of us are so afraid of change, and we cling to our current situa on even if it makes us miserable. Start changing how you perceive fear. One way to do this is to do something new every day. Something small: try a new food or drink, a new type of exercise, learn something new, etc. When we step outside of our comfort zone by trying something new, we feel fear, but we do not let it stop us. 4. Examine the consequences – what would happen if you did not change? If, one year from now, every- thing is s ll the same, how would you feel? Could you take another year of everything being the same? 5. Make sure your goals are realis c. When goals are unrealis c, it can cause more fear which can lead to procras na on. When se ng goals, ask yourself: Are they realis c? Is the me frame I set realis c? Are the goals sustainable? Do I have the right sup- port system? What obstacles can I expect, plan, and prepare for? 6. Teachable/learnable moments – all change brings growth, experience, lessons, and moments of enlight- enment. When we survive and thrive through transi- ons, we build resiliency. What can I learn from this situa on? What benefits will come from the change? What can I do differently next me I'm in the middle of a transi on?

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