From the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida to Pennsylvania’s bill banning trans women from sports, fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights has been getting harder. But Philadelphia has been changing one bill at a time, allowing queer students the help and care they deserve.
Policy 252, a policy published by the Philadelphia School District, allows LGBTQIA+ students to change their names and pronouns in the official school system. This bill gives all students a chance to be addressed respectfully and not be afraid of being themselves. However, Policy 252 isn’t the only way Philadelphia is breaking down barriers for trans students.
CHOP Gender and Sexuality Clinic in Philadelphia, has offered support and health care to LGBTQIA+ youth up to the age of 21 and their families for 8 years now. Since 2014, the Gender and Sexuality Clinic has provided comprehensive gender assessment, gender-affirming medical care, monthly support groups, insurance advocacy, and legal support to their patients. With the help of Dr. Nadia Dowshen, Dr. Linda Hawkins, and their incredible team, they work to change Philadelphia for the better.
“I’m very lucky to have a job where I can do a combination of the things I love most, taking care of patients, training the next generation of doctors”, Dr. Nadia Dowshen said, “doing research and advocacy to address challenges my patients face on larger systems and policy levels.”
Dr. Nadia Dowshen, co-founder of CHOP Gender and Sexuality Clinic in Philadelphia.
Dr. Nadia Dowshen, co-leader of CHOP Gender and Sexuality Clinic, earned her Bachelor’s of Art and medical degree at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Before leading the clinic, Dr. Dowshen specialized in caring for youth living with HIV infection and medical care for LGBTQIA+ youth. In 2010, she received the 2010 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine New Investigator Award for her research on HIV infection among trans youth. In 2014, Dowshen co-founded CHOP GSC and it has been supporting families for 8 years now. Since 2020, Dr. Dowshen has been the associate professor of pediatrics at Penn Med.
“It is truly a privilege to work with such amazing and resilient young people who are willing to share their lives with me”, Dr. Nadia Dowshen said, “and to see how they can achieve their goals and dreams when they are supported and loved for who they are.”
But it’s still so hard trying to change when we have these hateful bills pushing back. On April 13th Pennsylvania House approves a bill that will ban transgender athletes from playing women's sports. Many feel that it is truly wrong for these kinds of bills to be passed, these athletes deserve every opportunity that is given to them, no matter their gender identity.
“These bills are extremely upsetting to our patients and families and us as their providers.” said Dr. Nadia Dowshen, “Many of the challenges come with people not understanding a young person's identity and how to support them…So what these bills are doing is just attacking trans kids and trying to deny their right to exist.”
CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
Though, CHOP Gender and Sexuality Clinic don’t allow these bills to diminish their spirit of helping. They’ve created support groups for youth and families and provided training for staff, teachers, and community leaders to give students more support in all communities. And as they continue to listen to youth, they continue to create a safe space for everyone who needs it.
“Research and our clinical experience has proven over and over that affirming kids in their identity, allowing them to participate in sports and activities as other kids and get medically necessary care improves their health and well-being,” said Dr. Dowshen
With Philadelphia changing one bill at a time, maybe all youth could use this as a chance to make a change. Whether it’s protesting for LGBTQIA+ rights or volunteering at youth shelters, trust me when I say it makes a difference.
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