♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF CONNECT-NEW YORK, WE'RE DIVING INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES FACING LGBTQ-PLUS NEW YORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER, AND AGE-APPROPRIATE SEXUAL EDCUATION IN SCHOOLS.

ALL THAT, AND MUCH MORE, COMING UP NEXT.

♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON TODAY'S SHOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES FACING LGBTQ-PLUS NEW YORKERS AND THE POLICY RESPONSES, PARTICULARLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, TO THESE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

TO DO ALL THAT, AND MORE, WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY KAREN FULLER, A FAMILY PEER ADVOCATE FOR THE SYRACUSE-BASED Q CENTER AT ACR HEALTH, ASSEMBLYMEMBER HARRY BRONSON, A ROCHESTER-AREA DEMOCRAT, AND BRITTAN HARDGERS, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR THE NEW PRIDE AGENDA, AND JOINING US REMOTELY IS DR. JENN JACKSON, AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

SO I WANT TO BEGIN OUR CONVERSATION BY TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER THREAT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BUT FIRST, KAREN, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE CAN CONSIST OF?

>> SO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE CAN CONSIST OF SOME MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SOMETIMES, ALSO TREATMENT SUCH AS FOR HORMONES.

WHETHER IT BE HORMONE BLOCKERS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT ENTERED PUBERTY YET, OR CROSS HORMONES FOR THOSE THAT ARE TRANSITIONING TO MALE OR FEMALE.

AND THEN ALSO CAN INCLUDE SURGERIES, TOO.

>> SHOULD WE THINK OF THIS AS A RANGE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON HOW PEOPLE MIGHT IDENTIFY AND PEOPLE'S PAGE AGE.

>> YES, I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN KEY CHARACTERISTICS THAT I WANT TO ADD TO WHAT KAREN IS SAYING IS THAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE REALLY IS BASED UPON CARE THAT COMES WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

I THINK THAT IS RUN OF THE MOST KEY COMPONENTS THAT IS MISSING IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT WE MUST ADDRESS.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN REALLY CARE FOR ANYONE ON THIS CONTINENT IN THE WORLD AS LONG AS YOU PROVIDE CARE THAT COMES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE LINES REGARDING GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

WE KNOW THAT IS A BARRIER IN HEALTHCARE.

SO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE, ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS BASED ON DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

I THINK THAT'S THE UNDERLYING KEY CONCEPT.

>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE THAT IS PROVIDED IN A WAY THAT IS DIGNITY AND RESPECT?

>> FIRS AND FOREMOST, RESPECTING WHO PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE.

THAT IS THE FIRST KEY.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

TRUST THE EXPERT.

AND AS A PERSON COMING INTO A HEALTHCARE FACILITY, IF I SAY THAT I AM BRITTAIN HARDGERS, THAT'S WHO I AM.

AND TO PROVIDE CARE NOT BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE.

WE LIVE IN A GENERATION WHERE A LOT OF CARE IS BASED ON WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT YOU SEE WITH THE NAKED EYE IS NOT ALWAYS WHO PEOPLE TRULY ARE.

SO BEING ABLE TO ASK SECURE QUESTIONS AND NEEDED QUESTIONS.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS YOU.

THAT CAN CHANGE SO MUCH ACROSS THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY IN MY ROLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER.

PEOPLE ACTUALLY TAKING TIME TO LEARN ABOUT TRANSPARENCY TRANSGENDER AND GENDER DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS.

WHEN YOU CARE AND WHEN I THINK THAT'S THE COMMON PIECE IN HEALTHCARE, IS A LOT OF FOLKS GET INTO THE WORK BECAUSE YOU CARE.

YOU CAN'T MISS THAT PIECE.

YOU CAN'T LOSE THAT PIECE OF CARING UNCONDITIONALLY BECAUSE WHEN YOU CARE, YOU DO THE WORK.

YOU DO THE WORK FOR UNDERSTANDING FOR SELF UNDERSTANDING, FOR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR TEAM AND THE EXPANSION IN HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO I THINK THAT BEING ABLE TO EDUCATE AND BE OPEN TO BE EDUCATED, IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, Dr. JACKSON, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE, PARTICULARLY THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN ASSURING NOT JUST ACCESS TO GENDER AJIRMING CARE BUT AS BRITAIN SAID, ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMATIVE CARE THAT COMES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

STARTING OFF I WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE THAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, THE SERVICES INVOLVED.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT BELIEVING PEOPLE AND BELIEVING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEIR CHOSEN FAMILIESLY MEMBERS AND THE CHEEM THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH.

IN THE TERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A VERY SMALL ROLE.

WE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPERTISE OUTSIDE OF THE FORMALISTIC BUREAUCRATIC GOVERNMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY THE GOVERNMENT IS USUALLY ROOTED IN THESE BOXES, RIGHT, VERY MUCH ROOTED IN GENDER BINARIES, HISTORICALLY WHITE SUPREMACIST AND ANTIBLACK ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE ANTI-OTHER, RIGHT?

THAT ARE HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANS PHOBIC.

SO OFTEN WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DOES GET INVOLVED IN THESE TYPES OF SERVICES, IT'S FROM A PLACE OF HARM.

SO WHAT I TYPICALLY SAY, WHAT I THINK IS THE MOST MODE IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP BACK AND TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE OFTEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND ARE OFTEN POPULATED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND WHO ARE THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> DOES THAT VISION OF THE STATE'S ROLE MATCH UP WITH WHAT YOU THINK NEW YORK SHOULD BE DOING?

>> I THINK FIRST OF ALL I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH STARTING FROM A PLACE OF SEEING THE DIGNITY AND RESPECTING ALL INDIVIDUALS HOWEVER THEY IDENTIFY.

I WANT TO POINT OUT THOUGH THAT SIMILAR TO WHAT KAREN WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE TYPES OF TREATMENTS, WE HAVE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT YOUNG FOLKS WHO RECEIVE PUBERTY BLOCKERS OR HORMONAL TREATMENT OF THOSE FOLKS WHO RECEIVE THAT, IT REDUCES, BY 73% DEATH BY SUICIDE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAVING LIVES.

I THINK GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE A ROLE IN SAVING LIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO ARE IN GOVERNMENT THAT ARE ACTING FROM, AS JENN SAID, A PLACE OF OTHER.

AND SO THEY'RE NOT SEEING THE DIGNITY.

THEY'RE NOT SEEING THE RESPECT.

AND, INSTEAD, THEY'RE SEEING THE OTHER AS SOMEONE DIFFERENT AND AS AN OTHER, A THREAT.

SO THEY'RE PASSING HATEFUL LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND HERE IN NEW YORK, AS A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, OUR RULE IS NOT TO BE COMPLICIT IN THAT HATE.

OUR ROLE, INSTEAD, IS TO SEE THE DIGNITY, SEE THE RESPECT, AND TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT INDIVIDUALS, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.

SO WE DO THAT THROUGH LEGISLATION.

WE DO THAT THROUGH CREATING REGULATIONS AND THE VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED IN.

SO WE HAVE DONE THIS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM, THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND UNDER ALL THOSE WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE TRANS SAFE HAVEN ACT THAT RECENTLY PASSED THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY.

AND SO GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE, BUT WE FEED TO BE INFORMED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND EXPERTS.

THE DOCTORS AND OTHERS.

WE NEED TO BE INFORMED BY THEM.

BUT I DO BELIEVE GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE.

>> CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION, WHICH IS IN RESPONSE, LIKE YOU SAID, TO POLICIES THAT ARE BEING PUSHED OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK?

>> SURE.

THE SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY PEOPLE NATIONALLY ON HOW WE WOULD RESPOND TO IN 2023, 130 PROPOSED PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

AND I THINK 34 DIFFERENT STATES, THAT WOULD ATTACK, BASED ON HATE, THE TRANS AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING NON-BINARY AND INTERSECTION COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AND WE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE, IS A BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT THOSE STATES FROM TRYING TO ENFORCE THEIR LAWS THROUGH NEW YORK STATE.

SO ONE ASPECT OF THAT IS WHEN THEY ISSUE A SUBPOENA TO EITHER A CRIMINAL SUBPOENA OR A CIVIL LIABILITY SUBPOENA, NEW YORK STATE WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH THEM AND EXERCISE THAT SUBPOENA.

WE WILL NOT EXTRADITE.

WE WILL NOT REMOVE FROM OUR STATE AN INDIVIDUAL TO ANOTHER STATE SO THEY CAN PROSECUTE THEM.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO DECIDE, WITH THE CONSENT OF THEIR CHILD, AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT, WITH THE ASSENT OF THEIR CHILD, CHILDREN CANNOT CONSENT LEGALLY, BUT THEY CAN ASSENT.

THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION AS BRITTAN JUST SAID, THEY CAN TELL US WHO THEY ARE AND WE CAN HEAR WHO THEY ARE.

THAT'S THE ASSENT PART OF IT.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW IN NEW YORK STATE FOR A CHILD TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENT BY ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE THEY EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO HAVE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR THEIR CHILD.

ANOTHER ASPECT IS TO PROTECT THE PROVIDERS.

SO IF A PROVIDER PROVIDES SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE, THEN WE WILL NOT ALLOW MALPRACTICE INSURANCE TO BE ADJUSTED OR IT CANCEL, NOR WILL WE ALLOW A PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT PROCEEDING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THEY PARTICIPATED IN GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

AND SO THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN PROTECT BUT IT'S LIMITED.

WE CAN ONLY PROTECT THE ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK STATE BUT IT DOES ALLOW PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, TO COME TO NEW YORK STATE, RECEIVE THAT AND WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE WITH THEIR STATE TO IMPLEMENT THE HATE FILLED LEGISLATION THAT THEY HAVE PASSED.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

YOU SPOKE ABOUT HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY AND I THINK THAT AND SURGERIES.

I WANT FOLKS TO BELIEVE THAT GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS NOT ALL BASED ON HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY OR SURGERIES.

A LOT OF IT IS SOCIALLY TRANSITIONING AND SOMETHING THAT OUR YOUTH NEED IN ORDER TO THRIVE IN THOSE SOCIAL TRANSITIONS, IT SEEMS SPEAKS A LOT TO THE BANS ON BOOKS.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO STAND ON THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO RECEIVE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AND SOCIALIZATION IS A HUGE PIECE OF IT, BEING ABLE TO SEE FOLKS LIKE YOU WITH SHARED LIVED EXPERIENCES BECAUSE EVERY PERSON OF TRANS EXPERIENCE, EVERY PERSON WHO IS GENDER EXPANSIVE OR GENDER DIVERSE IS NOT ON HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

EVERYONE WHO IDENTIFIES UP UNDER THESE UNL BREL LAS DO NOT RECEIVE SURGERY.

A LOT OF THIS IS HEALING WITHIN SELF TO BE EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE AND SOMETIMES BEING ABLE TO DO THAT FREELY AUTHENTICALLY VISUALLY, VERBALLY IS ENOUGH HEALING TO WHERE SOMEONE DOES NOT NEED HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, TO WHERE SOMEONE DOES NOT NEED SURGERY SO THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT.

GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE PER INDIVIDUAL, LIKE WE CAN RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES NO MATTER WHERE IT IS WITHIN HEALTHCARE AND WITH ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

>> DO YOU THINK THE SERVICES ARE... >> DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?

>> I WANT TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL.

AS A PERSON OF TRANS EXPERIENCE WHO DOES NOT IDENTIFY WITH SURGERIES AND DID US NOT IDENTIFY WITH HORMONE REPLACEMENT AND HORMONE THERAPIES, RIGHT.

THAT WHAT IS I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT TAKING A BACKSEAT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT THINKS OF CARE, THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSTRUCTION OF CARE IS OFTEN WESTERN MEDICINE WAYS AND WHAT BRITTAI NI IS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT CARE IS ALSO EXPANSIVE.

OUR GENDER IS EXPANSIVE BUT IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF CARE THAT WE NEED IS EXPANSIVE.

IT MAY BE COUNSELING SERVICES, IT MAY BE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS WHO EMBODY AND TRANSITION IN THE WAYS THAT WE DO.

IT MAY JUST BE HAVING A PLACE TO GO, RIGHT, THAT IS SAFE, THAT IS IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER FOLKS, JUST TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP, RIGHT?

IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SOMETHING THAT HAS A TRANSACTION OR SOME FORM OF KIND OF RED TAPE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES FREQUENTLY STRUGGLE WITH SEEING THE SUCCESS OF THEIR WORK UNLESS THERE IS A TANGIBLE KIND OF MATERIAL PAYOFF AT THE END.

AND SOMETIMES, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS, THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, THE PAYOFF MAY NOT LOOK THE SAME.

AND SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY IS THE PLACER WITH WE FIND OUT WHAT CARE MEANS, NOT ROOTED IN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.

>> IT'S ONE THING FOR THE STATE TO ESSENTIALLY PRESERVE ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

IT'S ANOTHER THICK IN THE REAL WORLD FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SERVICES EITHER BECAUSE OF COST OR WHETHER THEY'RE ACTUALLY NEAR THEM.

SO WHEN YOU ARE HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND YOU ARE COUNSELING FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE, DO YOU FIND THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN SEND THEM TO THAT THEY ALSO THEN CAN EITHER AFFORD OR HAVE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO?

>> THERE ARE VERY FEW.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE.

SO THERE ARE VERY FEW PROVIDERS OUT THERE, EITHER MENTAL HEALTH OR MEDICAL, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT THEY MIGHT NEED, THAT REALLY UNDERSTAND GENDER IDENTITY; AND THAT I'M COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, REFERRING FAMILIES TO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO FIND A PROVIDER THAT IS JUST CLAIMING THAT THEY WORK WITH LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE IT CAN BE VERY MISLEADING.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE SOMEBODY THAT REALLY DOESN'T BUT THEY WANT TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE DOOR.

SO YOU KNOW, THERE IS SUCH A LIMIT AND THEN, YES, VERY FEW AT THAT TIME TAKE INSURANCE.

SO SOME DON'T EVEN TAKE INSURANCE AND THEN THEIR FAMILIES ARE PAYING OUT OF POCKET, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR SOME PEOPLE.

AND JUST THINKING OF, YOU KNOW, A POSSIBLE INCREASE OF, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS MAKING THERE I WAY TO NEW YORK WITH THE SAFE HAVEN.

THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY SHORT ON, LIKE I SAID, KNOWLEDGEABLE PROVIDERS, AIRM IFING AND OPEN PROVIDERS-- AFFIRMING AND OPEN PROVIDERS.

AND NOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING IN?

THE PROVIDERS WE DO HAVE HAVE WAIT LISTS, SIX MONTHS OR MORE.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE SO IT CAN REALLY BE DIFFICULT AND THEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM, RIGHT?

IN SYRACUSE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE HAVE PROVIDERS.

WE HAVE A YOUTH CENTER FOR LGBTQ YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO GO TO.

BUT IF WE GO OUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO THE MOHAWK VALLEY OR TO NORTHERN NEW YORK, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARDER TO FIND THOSE THINGS.

SO YOU HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO PLAY AS WELL.

SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

>> SO THIS IS, I THINK, AN AREA WHERE GOVERNMENT CAN PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY PROVIDERS.

AND WE'VE DONE SO IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

1: GENERALLY, AND THIS HAPPENED BACK IN 1994, I BELIEVE, IT WAS WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE THEN CALLED GAY ALLIANCE OF THE GENESEE VALLEY.

MANY CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT TO START A FUND THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN NON-H.I.V.-RELATED HUMAN AND HEALTH SERVICES.

THAT FUND HAS BEEN INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE.

RECENTLY, UNDER THE GREAT LEADERSHIP OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER CRUZ, WE STARTED A SIMILAR FUND FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY AND IT'S THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FUND.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR WE FUNDED IT AT $3 MILLION THAT WILL HELP ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FUND THEM SO THEY CAN PROVIDE THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT WE NEED FOR OUR TRANS COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S A PARTNERSHIP.

BUT, AS KAREN MENTIONED, SOMETIMES THE FUNDING IS NOT THERE SO WE ARE TRYING AT THE STATE LEVEL AND I KNOW $3 MILLION IS NOT ALL THAT MUCH MONEY.

>> WHAT WERE THEY ASKING FOR $15 MILLION IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

>> BUT IT'S A START.

IT'S A STEP IN THE DOOR AND I WILL AGREE WITH JENN OUR AGENCIES ARE WAY BEHIND MUCH THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED AND THAT'S WHY WE IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS AGO I PASSED LEGISLATION REQUIRING CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING FOR FOLKS WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND THEN THIS YEAR, WE JUST PASSED A LGBTQ BILL OF RIGHTS HOPEFULLY THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THAT, THAT OUTLINES A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE ENTIRE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OF FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES OR NURSING HOMES BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD MANY OF THOSE FOLKS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO GO BACK IN THE CLOSET AND AS BRITTAN OUTLINED, NOT BEING ABLE TO LIVE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES.

SO WE TRY TO PARTNER, BUT CLEARLY WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED AGENTED SIS THAT PROVIDE-- AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

>> BRITTAN WHEN YOU ARE ORGANIZING AND TRYING TO SPEAK WITH LAWMAKERS UP AND DOWN THE SPECTRUM WHETHER IT'S STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL, DO YOU FIND THAT YOU ARE MEETING PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE YOU ARE SPEAKING AND THAT ARE WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH YOU OR IS SOME OF THIS FALLING ON DEAF EARS AND PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE VOA VAB LEAR YOU ARE USING?

>> I BELIEVE THAT, TO BE HONEST, IT DOESN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS.

IT NEVER FALLS ON DEAF EARS.

IF ANYONE KNOWS ME, I'M BIG ON ANALOGIES.

I SPEAK AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND THAT'S THE KEY UNDERSTANDING TO ORGANIZATIONING.

NO MATTER WHAT ROLE AND WHAT HAT I HAVE ON, I'M MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THIS SPACE.

I'M AN EDUCATOR.

AND MY ROLE IS TO EDUCATE FOR CHANGE.

MY ROLE IS TO SPEAK FOR CHANGE.

SO GOING-- I MAKE SURE WHEN I'M IN CERTAIN SPACES, I DON'T USE ACRONYMS BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE MY ACRONYM IS GOING TO FALL ON DEAF EARS.

I NEED YOU TO KNOW EXACTLY THE POPULATION I'M SPEAKING ABOUT AND SPEAKING FOR AND WHO I REPRESENT.

>> JENN I THINK ABOUT YOU AS SOMEONE WHO CAN PUT THUNKS INTO UNDERSTANDABLE LEXICON FOR A VAST POPULATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT BRITTAN SAID ABOUT THE ACRONYMS AND APPROACHING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND THEIR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES.

>> I'M MORE OF A CYNIC, I THINK YOU KNOW.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ON THIS.

BUT I THINK THE FIRST IS, AS WE ARE TALKING AND THE IDEA OF THE COMMUNITY, TO ME FEELS VERY OFF BASE, RIGHT?

I KNOW THAT WHEN WECY LGBTQIA+, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT IT CAN BE ONE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES WITHIN ALL GROUPS, WITHIN WHITE FOLKS, WITHIN BLACK FOLKS, WITHIN LATIN AMERICAN FOLKS, WITHIN QUEER FOLKS, WITHIN DISABLED FOLKS, RIGHT?

AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS ACROSS THE VARIOUS GROUPS ARE DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

WE HAVE SEEN THIS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS WITH THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NON-HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE FIGHTS, RIGHT, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS THAT SAY THIS IS NOT A FIGHT THAT WE HAVE.

AS WE ARE HEARING THIS, I DON'T LIKE USING THE TERM FALLING ON DEAF EARS, BUT I THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT I CHOOSE NOT TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THE WORK, RIGHT?

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I'M OKAY WITH HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE CHALLENGING.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT I THINK A LOT OF CISGENDER AND HETERONORMATIVE PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW A LOT MORE THAN THEY DO.

I THINK THAT WHEN WE START TO ACTUALLY HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, IT'S A LOT AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE BEING CHALLENGED BUT THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE NEED THAT.

IT IS LIFE OR DEATH.

YOU KNOW, IT IS OUT OF CONTROL, THE NUMBER OF YOUNG FOLKS WHO I SPEAK WITH WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING JOBS, ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE OR TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'RE QUEER OR TRANS IS OUT OF CONTROL.

AND I THINK IT'S NICE TO TALK ABOUT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS, BUT IF THE COMMUNITY IS MAKING SPECIFIC CLAIMS AND SPECIFIC REQUESTS THAT ARE NOT ABOUT THESE GOVERNMENTAL FINANCIAL INTERVENTIONS BUT ARE ABOUT OTHER THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES AND ACCESS TO CARE IN THOSE WAYS, WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENING IN THOSE WAYS FIRST?

WHY ARE THEY JUST THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM?

>> I WANT TO ADD TO WHAT JENN SAID.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SAYING THAT, SERIOUSLY.

AS SOMEONE WITH TRANS EXPERIENCE WHO DECIDED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL IN ROCHESTER, THERE WAS A NEED AND THE NEED JUST SPOKE TO A LOT OF THINGS THAT JENN JUST SAID.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE QUEER FOLKS IN POLITICS AND IN GOVERNMENT.

WHEN WE ARE TALK ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ FOLKS SITTING IN THOSE SEATS, THERE WAS NO ONE WITH MY LIVED EXPERIENCE SITTING IN THOSE SEATS.

SO WHEN FOLKS ARE MAKING DECISIONS, THERE WERE DECISIONS BEING MADE AND DECISIONS-- IT'S SO FUNNY I JUST SAID THIS IN ALBANY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.

THERE ARE DECISIONS BEING MADE IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE THAT SHARE MY LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT ARE NOT AT THAT TABLE.

WHAT IS NEEDED UNDER THE LGBTQ+ UMBRELLA IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I NEED OR MY COMMUNITY NEEDS AND IT MAKES ME PROUD TO HAVE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO GO PAST SURVIVING TO THRIVING.

AND CHALLENGING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT HARRY SAID, LIKE WE NEED THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT NOW WE NEED THOSE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THOSE SPACES BECAUSE WE CREATE SECURE SPACES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SECURE SPACES.

SO THE SECURE SPACES ARE THERE.

THE DATA IS THERE.

THE INFORMATION IS THERE.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I'LL GO BACK TO LIKE IF I HAVE TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND THAT'S MY QUESTION FOR ALL POLITICS, ALL GOVERNMENT.

IF I'M MEETING YOU WHERE YOU ARE.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MEET ME WHERE I STAND BECAUSE I'VE CONTINUALLY BEEN STANDING HERE AND IF I DO NOT STAND HERE, MY COMMUNITY FALLS.

IF I DON'T STAND, THAT LEAVES A HOLE, A GAP FOR THAT HATEFUL RHETORIC TO COME IN.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOUSING, IT IS RIDICULOUS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE, A LOT OF THAT GOES BACK TO THE LACK OF RESPECT, THE LACK OF DIGNITY BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHO I AM FIRST AS A HUMAN BEING, YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT ME.

I JUST SHARED THIS RECENTLY ON A PANEL FOR FOLKS ALSO TO REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING IS NOT AN EDUCATION MOMENT.

I WAS SPEAKING TO THIS AMAZING PATIENT RELATIONS OFFICER AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE I DON'T BELIEVE.

I'M TRYING TO GET IT.

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE I WANT TO GET PRONOUNS RIGHT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LIKE THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND HOW I MISGENDER SPOKES FOLKS.

I HAD TO COME AND EXPLAIN TO HER IF MY ARM IS BROKE BROKEN AND OVER THE PLACE AND YOU NEED ME TO EDUCATE YOU ON WHO I AM, THAT PRIVILEGE, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, MY ARM IS LITERALLY HANGING OFF OF MOO I BODY.

I AM IN EXCRUTIATING PAIN AND OUTSIDE OF YOU SEEING ME AS A HUMAN BEING THAT NEEDS CARE, YOU THEN FEEL IT IS MY JOB TO EDUCATE YOU FOR THE LACK THEREOF.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BARRIERS, IT'S MIND BLOWING WHEN YOU SIT AND YOU BRING IT INTO POLITICS.

AND IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO, IT'S SAD TO SAY, A LACK OF COMMON SENSE, A LACK OF COMMON SENSE THAT I, TOO, BLEED.

I, TOO, CRY.

I TOO, COULD LOSE MY JOB.

I, TOO, AM HUNGRY BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

>> THAT'S VERY POWERFUL.

AND WHAT JENN SAID IS VERY POWERFUL AS WELL AND, YOU KNOW, I AM A CISGENDERRED PRIVILEGED WHITE GAY MAN.

I SEE THAT.

I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I DON'T KNOW THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN.

I DON'T KNOW THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF A GENDER NON-CONFORMING PERSON.

IT IS MY JOB-- AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT-- TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND AND TO WORK THROUGH IT.

I JUST HAD A RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE CONCOURSE.

I WENT TO MAKE A DEPOSIT AT KEY BANK.

HAD THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO PRESENTED AS, I THOUGHT, A MALE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMEONE IN TRANSITION OR SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIED AS A FEMALE.

I'M NOT SURE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE TRANSACTION, I SAID THANK YOU, SIR.

I WALKED OUT, STARTED WALKING DOWN THE CONCOURSE, TURNED AROUND, WALKED BACK TO THE TELLER AND SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?

I JUST THANKED YOU BUT I SAID SIR AFTERWARDS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU IDENTIFY.

I DON'T KNOW YOUR GENDER.

I APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING AN ASSUMPTION AND USING TRADITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE IN OUR INTERCHANGE.

AND THE PERSON THEN SAID I GO BY HE/HIM AND I THANK YOU THOUGH FOR COMING BACK AND SAYING THAT TO ME.

THOSE ARE THE SELF WORK THAT WE ALL HAVE TO DO.

BUT IT HAS TO START WITH ACKNOWLEDGING YOU DON'T KNOW THE LIFE EXPERIENCE.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE JOURNEY OF OTHER AND OUR, AS JENN SAID EXTREMELY DIVERSE INTERSECTIONAL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE USE THAT BROAD ACRONYM, RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AT ALL LEVELS.

BUT TO HAVE TO ENGAGE IN THAT WORK FROM THE OTHER SIDE, WHEN YOU ARE THE GENDER NON-CONFORMING PERSON IN THE SETTING OF GETTING HEALTHCARE THAT'S A BURDEN YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT LEVEL OF BURDEN IS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IF NOT, WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT?

>> I WOULD SAY NOT IN THE VAST MAJORITY BUT IN THE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY, I THINK A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

BUT PEOPLE-- YOU KNOW, LOOK, I'M IN MY, HARD TO BELIEVE, I'M IN MY 18th YEAR IN GOVERNMENT.

FIVE AS MINORITY LEADER IN THE COUNTY LEG AND NOW MY 13th YEAR IN THE ASSEMBLY.

I HAVE COME FROM HAVING PEOPLE THROW ME OFF THEIR PORCH BECAUSE I SUPPORTED THE BATHROOM BILL TO LITERALLY HAND DELIVERING A HAND WRITTEN NOTE DURING MARRIAGE EQUALITY SAYING ALL FAGGOTS MUST BE KILLED, TO A POINT WHERE THAT STUFF STILL HAPPENS, BUT THE FREQUENCY IS MUCH LESS.

AS BRITTAN KNOWS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF HATE STUFF GOING ON.

I HAVE SEEN GROWTH.

AND I DO THINK IN SUPPORT OF WHAT JENN SAID, NOW WE REALLY HAVE TO KICK IT UP A NOTCH BIG TIME.

IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST, YOU KNOW, LEARNING THE WORDS AND THINKING ABOUT THE DIVERSITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO DO DEEP SELF REFLECTION AND WE REALLY HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.

BUT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, WHERE YOU COME FROM, HOW YOU IDENTIFY, WHAT YOUR ABILITIES, WHO YOU LOVE, WE ALL HAVE DIGNITY AND WE DESERVE EQUITY, JUSTICE AND RESPECT.

THAT'S A MANTRA I LIVE BY.

BUT IT'S ALSO A MANTRA I HAVE TO WORK TO LIVE UP TO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> WELL, KAREN, MENTIONING THE IDEA WHERE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE, HOW DO YOU AT THE Q CENTER ENGAGE YOUNG TRANS PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, JUST, AGAIN, NOT HAVING THOSE ASSUMPTIONS, YOU KNOW, ASKING THE PERSON TO SHARE WHAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE SHARING WITH THEMSELVES.

>> HOW DO YOU GET THEM INTO THE DOOR TO BEGIN WITH, HOW DO THEY KNOW YOU ARE A RESOURCE AND CAN BE TRUSTED IN TERMS OF BEING A RESOURCE?

>> A LOT OF IT, AS FAR AS THE PARENT PIECE, COMES FROM WORD OF MOUTH.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT'S STARTED IS THAT PARENTS KIND OF HEARD ABOUT THE WORK I DO WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND THEN CAME IN.

WE DO A LOT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAININGS.

SO WE GO INTO SCHOOLS AND ACT SIS, BUSINESSES, AGENTED AGENCIES, MEDICAL PRACTICES, THAT ALSO BRINGS PEOPLE IN AND GETS THE WORD OUT.

WE GO MOO SCHOOLS, LIKE I SAID.

WE DO THE TRAINING WITH STUDENTS, SO WE GET WORD OUT.

WE ATTEND VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS AND TABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR.

AND THANKFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT WORKS.

WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN.

BUT I THINK GENERALLY OVERALL, AS FAR AS KNOWING PEOPLE KNOWING THAT THIS IS A PLACE THEY CAN GO AND A PLACE THEY CAN TRUST IS THE WORD OF MOUTH, YOU KNOW.

IT'S ONE THING TO CALL YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, AN ALLY, RIGHT OR A SUPPORTIVE PLACE.

BUT IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT AN ALLY UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS YOU, SOMEBODY ELSE TELLS YOU ARE YOU ARE AN ALLY, RIGHT?

>> GOOD POINT.

>> SO YOU ARE NOT REALLY SUPPORTIVE UNLESS OTHERS SEE YOU AS A SUPPORTIVE PLACE.

AND THANKFULLY, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND THE YOUTH WE SERVE, THAT YES, THEY FEEL THAT THIS IS A PLACE THEY CAN GO.

THIS IS A SAFE PLACE.

>> AND YOUR MANY TITLES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BEING A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FOR THE NEW PRIDE AGENDA AND ASSEMBLYMAN BRONSON AND I ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WAS THE ISSUE ON THE PRIDE AGENDA.

AS A REPORTER COVERING THAT, ONE THING I TOOK AWAY FROM THE PRIDE AGENDA'S AGENDA WAS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE TIMES A MILLION.

NOW THOUGH THE NEW PRIDE AGENDA HAS A MUCH MORE EXPANSIVE AGENDA AND AS JENN POINTED OUT, THIS IS NOT A MONOCULTURE YOU ARE REPRESENTING.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IF YOU GOING OUT WHAT TO PRIORITIZE IN ALBANY.

>> THAT'S A REALLY BOOED QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS YEAR-- >> WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY THOUGH?

>> THE COMMUNITY IS THE ONE THAT WE PRIMARILY FOCUS ON, BLACK AND BROWN INDIGENOUS TRANS, INTERSEX AND NON-BINARY FOLKS.

WE PUT OUT A CALL TO ACTION WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT ALL OF THE LEGISLATION ON THE TABLE AND WE TOOK VOTES FROM THE COMMUNITY, LIKE FOLKS WERE ABLE TO SURVEY.

AND WHEN WE GOT THE NUMBERS BACK, WE WERE ABLE TO NARROW IT DOWN TO THREE AND THOSE WERE LIKE OUR TOP THREE INITIATIVES TO ARE THIS YEAR.

AND LIKE WE ARE PROUD WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, I'M SO, SO, SO THANKFUL AND HAVE I TO SAY THIS, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THE ELITE ORGANIZER THIS YEAR, AVERY, FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TEACH ME IN THIS ROLE.

BUT BEING ABLE TO SEE SAFE HAVEN COMPLETELY THROUGH.

IT MAKES EVERY TRIP TO THE CAPITOL WORTH IT.

IT MAKES EVERY SIT DOWN WORTH IT.

IT MAKES SLEEP NES NIGHTS WORTH IT.

ALL THE LONG HOURS WORTH IT TO ACTUALLY SEE THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR BUT JUST TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS JUST A MARBLE IN A LARGE JAR.

IT JUST GIVES ME HOPE ENOUGH TO PUSH ON TO NEXT YEAR.

FOR ME, NEXT YEAR GIRDS, GIRDS WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THE LEGISLATION PIECES WE FOCUSED ON.

>> GENDER IDENTITY RESPECT DIGNITY AND SAFETY.

THIS LEGISLATION PIECE CENTERS ON FOLKS WHO ARE INCARCERATED, WHO ARE GENDER NON-CONFORMING TRANSGENDER IN REGARD TO COMMISSARY NEEDS AND HOUSING.

I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

I'M JUST GOING TO BE HONEST.

LIKE I FEEL LIKE ABOLISH THE WHOLE SYSTEM IN REGARDS AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, BLACK AND BROWN TRANS FOLKS DO NOT BELIEVE BELONG IN THIS SPACE.

THIS SPACE WAS NOT BUILT FOR US.

THE EDUCATION PIECE, THE HEALTHCARE PIECE, LIKE EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST IN THE WORLD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THAT WHOLE SYSTEMATIC VIEW IS LIKE LIVING IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS TRANS, NON-BINARY OR INTERSECTS SO FOR ME THAT IS A HUGE PIECE THAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THROUGH UNTIL I SEE IT COME TO PASS.

IT'S HORRIFYING TO HAVE STORIES CROSS YOUR DESK WHERE THERE ARE TRANS MASCULINE FOLKS WHO ARE HOUSED IN FEMALE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHERE THEY ARE BEING MADE TO WEAR BRAS AFTER HAVING TOP SURGERY SO FOLKS WHO NO LONGER HAVE ACTUAL VISUAL BREASTS, WHO ARE BEING MADE TO WEAR BRAS AT A CO'S HUMOR, AT THE RIDICULE, TO DENY SOMEONE HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

LIKE I JUST FEEL LIKE ALL OF THESE PIECES, WE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE AND THRIVE.

BEING ABLE TO THRIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS MEANT FOR NO ONE TO SURVIVE, FOLKS NEED THE COMMISSARY ITEMS THAT ARE BEYOND GENDER AFFIRMING.

IT'S WHO I AM AND WHAT I NEED TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THIS IS WHO I SEE EVERY DAY AND IF THIS IS A SMALL PIECE OF MY SURVIVAL IT'S MY RIGHT.

>> I KNOW THIS WAS RESONATING WITH YOU.

DO YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT.

>> I HAVE STUDENTS IN SYRACUSE THAT ARE QUEER AND TRANS.

I'M A MEMBER OF A VERY THRIVING PLANT COMMUNITY AND ALL OF US ARE QUEER AND TRANS.

WE TALK ABOUT THE Q CENTER.

WE DO PLANNED EVENTS WITH THE Q CENTER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN.

I WANT TO GO BECAUSE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT AS A PLACE THAT IS AFFIRMING AND WHERE THEY CAN BE SEEN AND THEIR KIDS CAN BE SEEN AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT BRITTAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, IT WAS RESONATING ABOUT BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PLACES TO BE HUMAN, RIGHT?

THESE ARE PLACES TO SIMPLY EXIST IN PUBLIC AND BE ALLOWED TO BREATHE AND DO WHAT OTHER FOLKS ARE ALLOWED TO DO IN PUBLIC, RIGHT?

MY WORK, RIGHT, IN GENERAL, I STUDY BRAK FOLKS IN PUBLIC.

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

AND THAT INCLUDE QUEER FOLK AND DISABLED FOLK AND BLACK IMMIGRANTS, RIGHT?

WE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BE HUMAN.

SO WHY IS IT THAT IN A CASE OF QUEER AND TRANS FOLK, THAT WITH WE ENTER HOSPITALS, WHEN WE ENTER GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS, WHEN WE ENTER PUBLIC SPACES, GROCERY STORES, BATHROOMS, WE ARE TO LONGER ALLOWED TO BE HUMAN, RIGHT?

WE ARE ASKING JUST TO BE HUMAN IN PUBLIC.

AND IT RESONATES BECAUSE IT'S SO CONCERNING THAT THESE ARE DAILY EXPERIENCES THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE HAVING.

AND EVEN NOW I'M 38 AND I'M STILL HAVING THESE EXPERIENCES WHERE PEOPLE ARE INFRINGING ON MY HUMANITY BECAUSE I'M QUEER AND TRANS.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER NEXT YEAR VOTERS WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOTE ON AN EQUALITY AMENDMENT THAT INCLUDES PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY OR GENDER EXPRESSION.

IF IT IS APPROVED, HOW BIG OF A GAME CHANGER WILL THAT BE IN TERMS OF LIFE IN NEW YORK FOR LGBT NEW YORKERS?

>> IT DOES TWO THINGS.

ONE THING, IT'S AN AFFIRMATION.

IT'S AN AFFIRMATION BY THE STATE THAT 1-S WE SEE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND THAT WE ARE WANTING THEM TO HAVE THEIR HUMANITY SEEN AND FOR THEM TO HAVE THE EQUITY THEY DESERVE IN OUR STATE IT'S A STATEMENT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE WILL GO-- WE HAVE LEGISLATION, ALWAYS CAN DO MORE.

WE ARE GOING TO DO MORE IN THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE LEGISLATION HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR.

DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COURTS CASE IN CALIFORNIA COMES DOWN.

BUT-- WE CAN DO MORE STATUTORILY.

BUT HAVING A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND HAVING A CONSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT THAT THIS STATE WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOU BECAUSE OF, AND WE COVERED BOTH SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS WELL AS GENDER IDENTITY AND JERND EXPRESSION HAVING THAT EMBEDDED IN THE CONS STEWING, I THINK IS EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT.

THE OTHER THING IT DOES IS OFFER A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAT IF OUR STATE SOMEHOW WERE TO START GOING IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE WRONG DIRECTION AND WHAT JENN IDENTIFIED IS HAPPENING IN LOTS OF GOVERNMENTS, THE CONSTITUTION THERE IS SO UNDOING A CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION IS VERY HARD.

SO IT'S HUGE.

AND I WAS GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT TO THE PRIME SPONSOR REBECCA SEAWRIGHT.

>> AND THIS COULD BE AN AVENUE THAT PEOPLE COULD USE FOR COURT CASES SOME THE FUTURE THAT YOU COULD CITE THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHEN LOOKING... >> THE LEGALITIES OF IT IS THAT IT GIVES YOU NOT ONLY A STATUTORY RIGHT BUT A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

AND SO THAT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT PS IF THE RIGHTS ARE BROKEN?

BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST PART, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF, OF TRANS EXPERIENCE WHO, YOU KNOW, I FACE DISCRIMINATION EVERY DAY.

SO LIKE WHEN MY RIGHTS ARE BROKEN AND MY RIGHTS ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT, LIKE I WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE BECAUSE IF I HAVE THIS RIGHT, IT'S GREAT THAT HAVE I THIS RIGHT.

BUT IF PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THE SAME WAY, WHERE IS THE SECURE PROTECTION IN THAT?

>> SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE SCENARIO, THE FACT PATTERN IS AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION, RIGHT?

SO MEANING YOU COULD SUE ON YOUR OWN BEHALF.

OR A GOFT RIGHT OF ACTION, SO THAT WOULD BE, IN OUR CASE, THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COULD SUE ON YOUR BEHALF.

OR IN THE HOUSING ARENA, THERE IS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES YOU CAN TAKE.

IN THE MEDICAL AREA THERE IS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES THAT YOU CAN HAVE.

THE DIFFICULTY IS THIS: ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THIS IS WHERE WE FALL VERY SHORT-- I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER HOW TO CORRECT IT.

YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE BOXES ON HOW ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR RIGHT GETS THE REDRESS THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO.

SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, OFTEN TIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK WHICH COMES FIRST, THE LEGISLATION OR THE LAW OR THE SOCIETAL CHANGE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY EBB AND FLOW, THEY GO BACK AND FORTH, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE, WHAT I THINK THE THREE OF YOU ON THE PANEL HAVE HIGHLIGHTED, I THINK QUITE ADEQUATELY AND ELOQUENTLY, THAT WE NEED THIS TO BE HAPPENING IN THE FIELD.

WE NEED IT TO BE HAPPENING WITH OUR PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SEEING IT RIGHT AND NOT VIOLATING YOUR RIGHT.

THAT'S THE DIFFICULT PROCESS.

PASSING LAWS ARE GREAT.

BUT IT'S DIFFICULT.

AND PASSING LAWS ARE ALSO VERY PROBLEMATIC.

I MEAN YOU BROUGHT UP THE OLD PRIDE AGENDA AND MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEHOW IT DIDN'T THINK IT NEEDED TO EXIST ANYMORE.

>> WE DID IT, DISSOLVE.

MISSION ACCOMPLISH.

>> WHICH WAS QUITE SAR CATTICALLY GREAT FOR THOSE GAY WHITE MEN WHO WANTED TO MARRY AND HAVE CHILDREN, RIGHT?

SO UNFORTUNATELY THE FUNDING FELL OFF AND IT DISSOLVED AND NOW WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL NEW PRIDE AGENDA AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MY BILL BUT WHEN THE BILL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED, IT INCLUDED GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER EXPRESSION.

THAT GOT DROPPED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THE FAILURE OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

SO EVEN THOUGH FOR SONDA WE WAITED FOR SEVERAL DECADES FOR THAT TO GET PASSED.

IT GOT PASSED WITHOUT THE PROTECTION FOR OUR TRANS COMMUNITY.

AND WITH THE PROMISE THAT WILL HAPPEN 17 YEARS LATER WE DO GENDER.

THAT PROTECTED OUR GENDER NON-CONFORMING FOLKS.

SO WE DO THE BEST WE CAN AND IT'S HARD.

LOOK, I HAVE BEEN AN ACTIVIST, I HAVE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT LONG ENOUGH.

I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF AN ACTIVIST ANYMORE.

BUT IT'S HARD, AND WE DID THIS WITH GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN THE LAST MINUTE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU KNOW OF OUR LAST DISCUSSIONS, IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE TO, AS A POLICY MAKER, HEARING THE VOICES OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED WANTING A LITTLE BIT MORE AND YOU SAY THIS IS WHAT I CAN DELIVER.

I'M GOING TO KEEP WORKING WITH YOU, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE CAN GET PASSED THIS YEAR AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN GET THE GOVERNOR TO PASS.

THAT'S HARD TO SAY TO FOLKS LIKE BRITTAN AND KAREN AND JENN WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD FIGHTING SO HARD.

BUT WE HAVE TO, AT THIS TOGETHER.

>> KAREN, THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER IS TALKING ABOUT LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND WELL, I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT, SO HE IS DOING ME A FAVOR, BUT THOSE ARE ALL KIND OF TOP-DOWN MEASURES AND MAYBE THEY CAN DRAG PEOPLE KICKING AND SCREAMING INTO THE 21st CENTURY, MAYBE THEY CAN'T.

WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF GETTING KIDS EARLY ON WITH AGE APPROPRIATE COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL EDUCATION.

HOW COULD THAT POTENTIALLY ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS WE MIGHT HAVE ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AND ACCESSING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IN RESPECTFUL WAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> SO I THINK IT CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, A BIG IMPACT.

DEFINITELY WE SEE, YOU KNOW, THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT GAY MEN ARE HIGHER RISK OF H.I.V.

AND AIDS.

AND THAT STEMS FROM THE WAY WE TEACH SEX ED, COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED IN SCHOOLS.

IT'S MAINLY ABSTINENCE-BASED.

SO IF YOU ARE FOCUSING ON EDUCATION THAT ONLY TALKS ABOUT HAVING CHILDREN, YET YOU ARE NOT ENGAGING IN BEHAVIORS THAT RESULT IN CHILDREN, THEN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY ATTENTION.

SO YOU MISS, YOU KNOW, YOU MISS IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE.

SO IF THEY HAD BETTER COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED IN SCHOOLS, THEN THEY WOULD GET, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WOULD BE GETTING, YOU KNOW, ACCURATE INFORMATION.

SO AND IT WOULD HELP REDUCE, YOU KNOW, STIGMA THAT, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN MIGHT HAVE OR INTERNALIZE.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR WHO THEY ARE BUT THEY CAN AT LEAST KNOW HOW THEY FEEL AND THEY MIGHT KNOW, OKAY, I DON'T FEEL EXACT WILL I RIGHT OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KIDS SPECIFICALLY THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY YOUNG, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE, THEY'RE NOT THINKING OF, YOU KNOW, WHO THEY'RE SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO.

THEY'RE THINKING OF WHO THEY MIGHT BE EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO OR WHO THEY ESTHETICALLY ARE ATTRACTED TO, RIGHT?

IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

BUT IF THEY WERE GOING TO SCHOOL AND LEARNING, THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE LIKE SEX EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS, THEN THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, SEE HEY, THEY WOULD SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN THAT.

AND IT COULD MAKE, YOU KNOW, THEM MORE, AS THEY GET OLDER, THEY CAN BE MORE SURE OF THEMSELVES.

THEY CAN BE MORE CONFIDENT, SO IT CAN REALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

>> Dr. JACKSON, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT AN AGE APPROPRIATE COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL EDUCATION SHOULD CONSIST OF, WHAT ARE THE HALLMARKS OF THAT AND ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO WHAT MIGHT BE MISSING FROM OUR CULTURE RIGHT MOW THAT PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT LEARNING AS THEY AGE AND MATURE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I LOVE THIS QUESTION.

I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE RAISING THREE CHILDREN.

AND I AM RAISING THEM OUTSIDE OF THE GENDER BINARIES SO I THINK AGE APPROPRIATE, IT DEPENDS ON THE CHILD.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE INTENTIONAL BOTH IN COMMUNITY AND WITH RESPECT TO CHILDREN THAT WE RAISE OURSELVES OR WE HAVE PROXIMITY TO AND PART OF THAT IS IT GOES BACK TO WHAT BRITTAN IS SAYING.

LISTENING, ASKING THEM WHO THEY ARE.

ONE THING HAVE I DONE WITH MY CHILDREN FROM THE MOMENT THEY GOT ON THIS PLANET WAS HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR GENDER IS?

WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE FEELS GOOD ON YOUR BODY?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WEAR, RIGHT RATHER THAN TELLING THEM PINK IS FOR GIRLS AND BLUE IS FOR BOYS AND BOYS PLAY WITH TRUCKS AND GIRLS PLAY WITH BARBIES.

THERE ARE WAYS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WE CAN BE INTENTIONAL AND CHALLENGE OURSELVES, RIGHT, ELK ALSO START THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS WE ARE COMPLICIT IN OUR HOMES, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WITH OUR KIDS, WITH OUR NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

THAT'S PART OF AGE APPROPRIATE CAWR.

CARE.

THE OTHER PART AND BRITTAN BROUGHT THIS UP, THINKING MORE INTENTIONALLY ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE CRT IS.

WHEN ALL OF THESE ATTACKS ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY CAME DOWN A FEW YEARS AGO, FOLKS THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BOOKS ABOUT, UP KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IN ACTUALALITY, WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT FEELS CHALLENGING HAS FALLEN UNDER THIS UMBRELLA.

BOOKS ABOUT ASIAN-AMERICAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, BOOKS ABOUT FOLKS OF TRANS IDENTITY, BOOKS ABOUT FOLKS WHO ARE NAVIGATING DISABILITY, HAVE ALL BEEN BANNED, RIGHT?

ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN BANNED.

MY CHILDREN HAVE READ BOOKS THAT ARE AGE APPROPRIATE ABOUT YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE NAVIGATING THEIR TRANSITIONS AND THOSE BOOKS ARE BEING BANNED.

SO PART OF THIS IS THE FACT THAT THIS MATERIAL ALREADY EXISTS.

AND IF FOLKS ARE SERIOUS, RIGHT, ABOUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GROWING UP AND BEING RESPONSIBLE ADULTS, THEY HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE TO US AND TAKE IT SOOER WHY USUALLY NOW.

WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL FOLKS ARE ALREADY ADULTS AND ARE NOT PREPARED.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING TO THAT, JUST...

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY GOT BEHIND AT THE Q CENTER WAS I WANTED TO SEE A Q KIDS GROUP.

SO FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 12 AND UNDER, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THERE WHEN I NEEDED IT FOR ONE OF MY CHILDREN AND THEN IT KIND OF WENT AWAY.

BUT I INTO YOU THAT-- I KNEW THAT IT COULD BE A HUGE THING FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER TO HAVE A SPACE THEY CAN GO AND BE THEMSELVES AND JUST BE KIDS BUT THEY CAN BE AROUND OTHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE HAVING THE SAME LIFE EXPERIENCE.

THEY CAN SEE OTHER ADULTS THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE AND AFFIRMING.

AND THEY CAN THEN GO TO A PLACE WHERE THEY SEE, AS THEY AGE UP, THERE IS A PHYSICAL LOCATION THEY CAN GO TO.

BUT THAT WAS REALLY HARD TO DO BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO DISCOUNT YOUNG CHILDREN OR EVEN ADOLESCENTS.

THEY THINK THEY DON'T KNOW THEMSELVES.

AND YOU KNOW, IT BECAME ALMOST LIKE A FIGHT TO GET INTO THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND GET IN TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT NO, THESE KIDS NEED SUPPORT AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE YOUNG.

BUT THEY, AGAIN, THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT SPACE.

AND WE NEED TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.

AND THAIMGFULLY, YOU KNOW,-- THANKFULLY, YOU KNOW, MY SUPERVISORS AT THE Q CENTER WERE BEHIND ME.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT GET THE GROUP GROWING AND IT'S THRIVING AND IT'S ONE OF OUR LARGEST GROUPS.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, AGAIN, THEY DISCOUNT THAT AGE.

THEY DISREGARD IT.

>> ASSEMBLYMEMBER LAST YEAR DURING ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY DEBATES, GOVERNOR HOCHUL WAS ASKED ABOUT LGBTQ EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND SHE HEMMED AND HAWED ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE DEBATE IN ALBANY AROUND ENSURING THAT KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO AGE APPROPRIATE SEXUAL EDUCATION THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE IN NATURE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT MANDATE, AND WHAT IS THE KIND OF FEELING WITH THE CAVEAT?

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

>> THERE ISN'T A SIGNIFICANT MANDATE.

THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT SXZUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IS PART OF THE SEX ED IN NEW YORK STATE.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT EXPLICIT.

IT'S NOT YOU KNOW, WELL DEFINED.

I CARRY A BILL THAT INCLUDES THAT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE DO AS WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY IN NEW YORK STATE WE LEAVE A LOT TO THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND IT'S FALLING WOEFULLY SHORT HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THAT AREA AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK AND IT'S SO NECESSARY BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FEELING COMFORTABLE AND ARE FEELING RESPECTED AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND ABLE TO EXPLORE AND UNDERSTAND BETTER SO THAT THEY CAN FULLY DEVELOP THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF.

IN OUR CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF SEX ED, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

AND THAT'S A PLACE WHERE WE COULD DO SO MUCH MORE IMPROVEMENT.

AND THE WHOLE BOOK BANNING ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, IN MY OWN DISTRICT IN A SMALL TOWN, THERE WAS RECENTLY A REQUEST THAT THE TOWN LIBRARY REMOVE BOOKS FROM THE SHELVES, I.E., BAN BOOKS RELATED TO LGBTQ.

FORTUNATELY, THE TOWN BOARD TOOK A QUICK VOTE AND IT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE VAST MAJORITY-- WELL EVERY PERSON WHO SPOKE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING SUPPORTED KEEPING THE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY.

BUT THOSE BATTLES ARE HAPPENING.

AND SOMETIMES WE THINK ABOUT OTHER STATES AND CONSERVATIVE STATES.

THESE BATTLES ARE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> WE ARE ABOUT TO BE OUT OF TIME BUT I WANT TO GIVE KAREN THE CHA THANS TO PLUG THE Q CENTER IN CASE THEY'RE WATCHING LOCALLY.

>> YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE Q CENTER AT ACR HEALTH OR GIVE US A CALL AT 315-475-2430.

>> AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THANKS TO OUR GUESTS, DR. JENN JACKSON, BRITTAN HARDGERS, ASSEMBLYMEMBER HARRY BRONSON AND KAREN FULLER.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE - OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES - VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT NEW YORK.

AND FOR MORE STATE GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, CHECK OUT THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM .ORG OR WHEREVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.