In an effort to allow the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer + (LGBTQ) community to feel welcome when seeking resources and services, a virtual and in-person program was created that empowers service providers directives on how to provide respectful and culturally sensitive care to this population.
The Equality California Institute’s LGBTQ + Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Program is designed to offer studies with basic LGBTQ + terminology, data on issues that affect them, how to avoid discrimination and how to create a welcoming environment, among others.
Since the program began six years ago, more than 3, 000 healthcare providers throughout California have benefited.
Zizi Bandera, Supervisor of programs at Equality California, said they are now expanding to agencies that offer services to the homeless in California.
“We know that the 40% of homeless youth, identify as LGBTQ, for different reasons such as family rejection, discrimination in the workplace and when seeking employment, among others, “said Bandera.
This rejection leads them to face the lack of housing and the inability to find a new home.
Although there are many homeless service agencies serving the LGBTQ + community they don’t always have the resources or knowledge to do so in a comprehensive and competent way, he explained.
“So we made sure to train to providers who want to do good so they can know how to take care of LGBTQ people when they are in their agency, ”said Bandera.
The training is available to any California agency interested in participating.
Improve understanding
California has the strongest LGBTQ + civil rights protections in the country, but the lack of Unequal access and acceptance to education, employment, housing and healthcare continue to fuel persistent disparities in their health and well-being, Equality California says.
René Owens, Director of Sustainability Outreach Services , an agency in charge of helping the vulnerable population of Northern California with resources, participated in the program at the beginning of the year.
She says that it was important for her to learn more about the needs of their clients to provide the necessary help.
“First, they are homeless and in crisis. Our job is to show compassion for them, ”said Owens. “It is not only a federal law, but it is our corporate desire to treat everyone equally.”
He assured that the main objective is to make clients feel safe, no matter where they come from and regardless of their faith, sexuality, political biases, dress, lack of income or resources.
Owens said participating in the program was an open and honest opportunity to learn about the many definitions used by the LGBTQ + community.
“It has provided the door to additional communications within our organization and certainly provided us with guidance to be respectful, culturally sensitive and more aware of the challenges these clients may face in the community in general ”, he asserted.
Training in Spanish
Next Wednesday 19 for the first time, the program training in Spanish will be held. Bandera said the focus is on organizations that serve the Spanish-speaking LGBTQ community.
“My colleagues and I will provide this training on LGBTQ diversity, equity and inclusion, all in Spanish and we will touch on some aspects of our Latino culture and how these issues intersect or are also manifested in our communities “, said the supervisor.
It is estimated that each year between 575, and 1.6 million young people unaccompanied between the ages of 12 to 17 experience homelessness in the US
Of them, between the 20% and the 40% identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex or two-spirited (LGBTQI2-S), indicated the report of the Administration of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (SAMHSA) of the Department of Human Services and Health Department.
Rejection can be particularly high for African American and Latino youth and can lead to higher rates of homelessness, the report revealed.
While around 80% of white LGBTQ + youth spoke to their parents, only 71% of Latinos, the 61 % of African Americans and 51% of Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) did.
Bandera said that currently as a result of the pandemic, much of the LGBTQ community has even higher rates of people without
“So it is even more important than ever that service providers have this knowledge now that there are more
LGBTQ people on the streets without a home, ”said the supervisor.
Very soon the organization will also launch ar an online course that will be free for homeless service providers and healthcare providers.
Equality California staff is available to help organizations and groups interested in registering for the courses completely free of charge.
For more information you can send an email to Zizi Bandera at zizi@eqca.org
To register for the program visit:
https://go.eqca.org/a/lgbtq-dei-sign-up