November 13-20 is Black Trans Empowerment Week, a week-long celebration of Black trans life. The theme this year, “When We Rise” focuses on rising up as a community as well as on a celebration of life.
In recognition of the week, we are reflecting on our recent conversation with Jayla Sylvester. In this webinar, Jayla discusses challenges faced by transgender people of color when accessing HIV prevention and care services.
Jayla explains transgender basics and expands on this information with personal narratives to illustrate how changing services and approaches can affirm and support transgender individuals. The presentation also highlights issues that need to be addressed to provide better services transgender individuals.
What can organizations do to better serve transgender individuals? Jayla emphasizes the need for a holistic approach. Holistic health encompasses mental, physical and spiritual health. This means that not only that services are available to a community, but the community is empowered to seek those services. By caring for the heart and soul of an individual, we’re also caring for the heart and soul of a community.
To explore a variety of resources to support transgender individuals in Texas, visit the Texas Transgender Alliance Resource Guide.
