SEATTLE, WA (January 28, 2013) — On February 11, 2013 at 6:00PM at Ingersoll Gender Center, representatives from Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) Sasha Buchert and Joe LeBlanc will present “Advocating for Inclusive Health Care in the Workplace,” a talk about how progress for Transgender-inclusive healthcare and insurance was made in Oregon.
Washington State Trans rights advocates are looking at how insurance exclusions and other healthcare disparities for transgender and gender non-conforming people can be addressed here. Local organizers are particularly interested in the lessons learned by activists in neighboring Oregon and have invited representatives to share their experience.
“We are excited to gain insight on how to address these important challenges for our community. The folks at Basic Rights Oregon have done truly wonderful work and it will be great to hear more from them on how they made it happen” said Marsha Botzer, founder of Ingersoll Gender Center.
Exclusions for Transgender-related care are almost universal in health insurance plans and, due to higher unemployment rates, transgender people in Washington state are twice as likely to not have health insurance as the general population. 96% have expressed interest in affordable and Trans-friendly health insurance according the local Perspectives Northwest Survey. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey reports that 48% postpone medical care because they cannot afford it.
Sasha Buchert is an attorney working with the BRO Transgender Justice Working Group.
Joe LeBlanc is a member of the BRO Transgender Justice Working Group and primary organizer of the 2011 Trans Justice Health Care Summit for Basic Rights Oregon.
Ingersoll Center Space is at 517 E Pike Street, Seattle on Capitol Hill, co-located with Gay City, downstairs from Kaladi Brothers Coffee. The event is free and open to the public and wheelchair accessible. Please contact Ingersoll Gender Center at [email protected] or (425) 329-7907 by February 4 if ASL or other accommodations are required.
Ingersoll Gender Center is a mutual support and education organization for Transgender, gender variant and Genderqueer people, and the people who support them. Ingersoll Gender Center is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization headquartered in Seattle and serving the Greater Seattle and Puget Sound region and beyond. Ingersoll is an all-volunteer organization that focuses on direct peer support, community building, education and advocacy. Ingersoll has become a model for peer support organizations and enjoys an international awareness for its long-standing and success and innovations.
Contact:
Ryan Blackhawke
[email protected]
(425) 329-7907
