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This site contains HIV/AIDS messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. This information should not be substituted for the advice of a doctor or other professional. GWU YES Center staff and sponsors assume no liability or responsibility for personal, financial, medical, or legal decisions made by users of this site.
 

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Transgender Conference Calls
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Transgender Youth of Color and HIV National Conference Calls
The YES Center at George Washington University, in collaboration with the Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) funded initiative “Outreach, Care, and Prevention to Engage HIV Seropositive Young MSM of Color” would like to invite you to participate in a four-call series on “Transgender Youth of Color and HIV.” National leaders in transgender health and services will be presenting on the following topics:
   

Call Materials

Invitation Letter

Participant Instructions
Conference Call Schedule and Topics
Moderator Bio
Glossary: Transgender Terms and Definitions
How To Be A Transgender Youth Ally
  
Transgender youth have been long overlooked for HIV prevention messages and referral into clinical care.  Yet, transgender youth are significantly impacted by HIV.  Several factors account for the high rates of HIV within the transgender community including: stigma and discrimination; drug and alcohol abuse; injection of hormones; survival sex; lack of access to medical care; economic hardships; and poor safer sex negotiating skills.1  Even with high HIV rates among transgenders, they self-identify as having a low risk for HIV.2

However, a recent study of ethnic-minority MTF transgender youth aged 16-25 supports that these factors play an important role in HIV transmission. Participants in the study reported: a history of incarceration (37%); homelessness (18%); sex in exchange for resources (59%); forced sexual activity (52%); difficulty finding a job (63%); and difficulty accessing health care (41%). Of these transgender MTFs, 98% reported having sex with men; 49% had unprotected receptive anal intercourse; and 53% had sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse was overwhelmingly marijuana use (71%) and alcohol (65%). Twenty-two percent (22%) of those in the study were HIV positive.3

These factors lead to low self-esteem, which increases substance abuse and other risky behaviors. Social marginalization, which these factors promote, can result in a lack of access to and denial of education, employment, and housing.4 Poverty and social marginalization lead to survival sex and a yearning for acceptance. 
 
 
The calls will be moderated by Ben Singer, who bring 15 years of experience in study of transgender issues, development of programs for transgender youth, and training of youth service providers. Please join us on the following dates to share information and discuss these issues:
Call #1: Transgender Youth 101
June 14th, 2pm EST
Call #2: Medical Care and Access for Transgender Youth
July 6th, 2pm EST
Call #3: Social Service Needs of Transgender Youth
July 26th, 2pm EST 
Call #4: Advocating and Referral for Transgender Youth
August 16th, 2pm EST
 

The calls will be audio and video. Please follow the instructions below to join the conference calls by phone and to log onto the conference calls via the web.
 
Participant Instructions

Audio: Call 1-866-295-5950. When asked for the participant code, enter: 8628941#. You will be asked for your name, then connected. An operator will moderate the calls and provide a time for participants to ask questions. Direct discussion between participants will not be possible due to the number of individuals on the call.

Video: The slide presentations will be available for participants to view during the call. Follow these instructions: 
 

    1. Go to http://www.budgetconferencing.com/fastweb/join.php
    2. Click the "Join a WEB Conference (Participant)" radio button
    3. Enter the "Participant Passcode (8628941)", "Name", "Company",   and  E-mail Address"
    4. Click the "Join" button
    5. A new page will be displayed. Press the Start
    6. A "Conference Connection Status" screen will apear
    7. Your session is now live (if an error message appears please contact the host to confirm that the session has been "Started")

If your computer has significant firewall protections and/or is an older model computer, you may have trouble connecting to the website. The website provides a systems check that can be access by entering the site and clicking on the join button and then clicking “Fast Web Systems Check”. This can be done at any time before the conference call.
  
Finally, we are pleased to offer an invitation for all participants to visit the www.YESCenter.org website to complete a series of questions regarding the calls in order to receive a certificate of completion. An exam will be available on the YESCenter.org website after each call. Participants will receive their certificate six-weeks after the last call. You may complete one or all of the exams. The certificate will list which exams were completed.

The YES Center and SPNS staff look forward to your participation on the call. If you have questions, please contact Blaine Parrish at (202) 714-5450 or via email at blainep@gwu.edu.
 

1 Melendez, R., Spencer, V., and Whittier, D. (2005). Transgender Persons and HIV Prevention: Academy for Educational Development.

2 Nemoto T., Luke, D., Mamo L., Ching A., and Patria, J.  (1999).  HIV risk behaviors among male-to-female transgenders in comparison with homosexual or bisexual males and heterosexual females.  AIDS Care, 11, 297-312.

3 Nemoto T., Luke, D., Mamo L., Ching A., and Patria, J.  (1999).  HIV risk behaviors among male-to-female transgenders in comparison with homosexual or bisexual males and heterosexual females.  AIDS Care, 11, 297-312.

4 Office of Public Health and Science. (2006).  HIV/AIDS and Transgender Persons. Fact sheet accessed at:  http://www.osophs.dhhs.gov/aids/factsheets/transgender.html.
  

  


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