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This article was previously published in CommUNITY, Albany, NY, February 2000, Focus, NASW — NJ Chapter Newsletter, and the April 2000 American Psychological Association Division 44 Newsletter. Social Work Embraces Transgender by Arlene Istar Lev and Barry Moore      Amidst the multitude of changes taking place within the Social Work profession at the turn of this century, NASW has adopted a policy position on Transgender/Gender Identity Issues. This statement states emphatically that, "… people of diverse gender expression and identity … should be afforded the same respect and rights as those whose gender identity and expression conform to societal expectations." This is an exciting and revolutionary stance for NASW to take, and it is in our credit as social workers that at the Delegate Assembly meeting in August of 1999, the policy statement passed overwhelmingly with no amendments added from the floor of the assembly.      Barry Moore, delegate assembly member from New Jersey, began the process of developing a policy statement in 1993. Through extensive communication and with substantial assistance from other social workers and members of the transgender community, as well as numerous draft revisions, Barry was able to successfully develop an inclusive and powerfully written policy statement to guide social work services for transgender people into the millennium. The NASW policy statement will serve to educate social workers to the natural development of those whose gender identity and expression may differ from their assigned sex at birth, and to increase the awareness and acceptance of transgender people.      The policy statement asserts that, "NASW believes that nonjudgmental attitudes toward diversity in gender identity and expression enable social workers to provide maximum support and services to those of diverse gender. Social workers and the social work profession can support and empower such persons in 'coming out,' dealing with family, significant others, friends, and co-workers, and finding their way to peace of mind in the face of residual socially and personally-imposed stigma." Understanding that transgender people must be included in the umbrella of our social service care giving will serve to create and direct agency policy and educational objectives. The statement further states, "NASW can be supportive in the areas of professional and continuing education, public awareness, health and mental health services and legal and political action." The policy specifically "… encourages the developmental of supportive practice environments for those struggling with transgender issues (both clients and colleagues) [emphasis mine]," recognizing that social workers are not just impacted professionally, but also personally.      Of course this policy statement just represents the beginning of the social work profession addressing issues affecting transgender people and their families. This will be an uphill battle affecting transgender people experiencing workplace discrimination, child custody issues and health insurance reimbursement difficulties. It will involve the need for specialized social work services in the clinical, medical, educational, policy, research and legal arenas. Ultimately it will impact the political process of including Gender Identity Disorder in the DSM, in much the same way as the issue of Homosexuality as a diagnosis was impacted by the burgeoning Gay Liberation Movement thirty years ago.      Social workers need to become educated about issues affecting transgender youth, spouses of transsexuals, the differences between gender and sexual identity, the humane treatment of intersexed infants, and utilizing the Standards of Care for ethical treatment of transgender people developed by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, to name just a few issues. The passing of the Transgender/Gender Identity Issues Professional Policy Statement is an important first step for NASW in addressing the needs of a previously ignored and clinically mistreated population. The full text of the policy statement will be published in Social Work Speaks, which contains all NASW policy statements. Copyright ©2000, Arlene Istar Lev Arlene Istar Lev CSW-R, CASAC is a family therapist who specializes in working lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families. She is the former Chair of the NASW NYS Chapter, Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee (1986-1994) and is on the adjunct faculties of SUNY Albany School of Social Welfare and Vermont College of Norwich University. Haworth Press will publish her book Transgender Emergence in 2000. She can be reached at Choices Counseling & Consulting, 321 Washington Ave., Albany, NY, 12206, 518-463-9152. Barry L. Moore, LCSW, ACSW is Associate Director, Social Work Services, UMDNJ-University Hospital, Newark, NJ. He has been active with the National Association of Social Workers over the past 25 years to include the following: Co-Chair, NASW-NJ HIV/AIDS Committee, Former Co-Chair, NASW Lesbian & Gay Issues Committee NJ delegate, Delegate Assembly - 1984, 1987, 1993, 1996, 1999, Member, National Committee on Lesbian & Gay Issues (1983-1986). He is also a member of the NJ State Board of Social Work Examiners. He can be reached at 65 North Fullerton Avenue #22, Montclair, NJ 07042, 973-746-6196. Back to top.

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