Table 3.

Actions identified at the community forum

Community- and policy-level actions 1)Education and information to reach a broader audience (e.g., community at large, community-based organization staff, service providers, churches, and governmental agencies) about the needs, assets, and priorities of Latina transgender women Similar community forums should be implemented in other geographic areas and with other groups of participants. Sensitivity training curricula should be developed and made available to agencies that serve or potentially could serve Latina transgender women. Latina transgender women and their allies should be empowered to educate others about issues relevant to their community. More voices should be incorporated into future projects, including those of other Latina transgender women, Latino transgender men, and family members and partners of Latina/o transgender persons. Future projects should seek to address issues of stigma that affect transgender persons. Resources should be made available for individuals and organizations to do their own research about these issues. 2)Advocacy around the issues that affect transgender persons in North Carolina The NC American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) should lobby and advocate for better policies in city and county government and for state legislation to protect the rights of transgender persons; Latina transgender persons and their allies should report problems with law enforcement, schools, obtaining documents, and other issues to the NC ACLU. Materials should be developed with information on how to apply for asylum based on gender identity; these should be delivered in formats and language that are accessible to Latina transgender women. 3)Mobilization to address needs and priorities identified by members of the Latina transgender community in North Carolina; these efforts should focus on: Improving access to education and work; Reducing exposure and transmission of HIV and other preventable diseases; Providing psychological and behavioral health support to prevent substance abuse and other mental health issues; Providing trans-inclusive medical services that are welcoming and competent; Initiating a support group for family members and partners of transgender Latina women; Promoting safe church options; and Connecting Latina transgender women with existing resources to help address needs and priorities.

Agency-level actions 4)Education for agency staff about how to better serve the Latina transgender community The type of information presented in the community forum should be made available to agency staff members who were not able to attend. Agencies should seek sensitivity or cultural competency training for all staff to learn about the experiences, concerns, and strengths of the Latina transgender community; Latina transgender women should be involved in the design and/or implementation of training curricula. It is important that agency staff’s education on the issues affecting Latina transgender women be updated as the community context changes. Through education, agencies should strive to create an atmosphere where all people can truly be themselves. 5)Outreach to the Latina transgender community Latino-serving agencies should strive to make their facilities a space that is open and welcoming to the transgender community. Those agencies that already provide services to the transgender community should work to expand participation to the Latino community; this includes ensuring that services are bilingual. Agencies should identify key community contacts and engage them in outreach efforts. Agencies should strive to hire transgender people as staff to create a more inclusive environment and increase organizational competency to meet the needs of transgender community members. 6)Development of programming specifically for the Latina transgender community Agencies should offer activities and interventions that are specific and culturally congruent for immigrant Latina transgender women. 7)Adaptation of protocols and forms to be more inclusive for the Latina transgender community Materials should include response options for the entire gender spectrum. Materials designed for the English-speaking transgender community should be carefully translated without losing meaning. Agencies should create transgender-friendly bathroom policies and ensure that they provide gender neutral bathrooms for staff and visitors.

Individual-level actions 8)Seek opportunities to educate oneself about the issues that affect the Latina transgender community Individuals should seek sensitivity training to learn more about the experiences, concerns, and strengths of the Latina transgender community Much can be learned from Latina transgender women (including those who were involved in the community forum) and asking them to share about their needs and priorities. Individuals can also work on learning and improving their Spanish skills to better communicate with Latina transgender women. 9)Share information with others about how to be supportive to the Latina transgender community Individuals should provide basic information to friends, family, and co-workers who have not had opportunities to learn about the issues affecting Latina transgender women. Once informed, individual should strive to debunk stigmas and raise awareness in the community about the experiences, concerns, and strengths of the Latina transgender community. 10)Be an ally to Latina transgender women Individuals can serve as a resource within the agencies where they work to help Latina transgender women, their partners, and their families gain access to services. Individuals can work to promote open communication and create safe spaces for Latina transgender women in the places where they work and other communities they are involved in. Individuals can get involved in existing activities of the Latina transgender community.