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“Transgender and intersex people cannot be erased—their rights and health should not be either.”

"Withdrawing the civil rights that have only just begun to be extended to transgender and intersex people across our nation could have devastating mental and physical health impacts. Transgender and intersex people have always been an important part of communities and cultures. They cannot be erased—their rights and health should not be either."

STATEMENT FROM MARY A. PITTMAN, CEO AND PRESIDENT, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE

“PHI stands firmly opposed to any efforts to roll back the rights and dignity of our transgender and intersex communities. The leaked federal memo that would, should it be enacted, define gender based solely on assigned biology at birth, is cruel and wrong.

“Science has established that neither gender nor sex is binary. Public health research shows that bigotry, lack of treatment and stigma lead to poorer health outcomes for transgender people—who are amongst our most marginalized and vulnerable communities. Equity and justice demand that we see and value others as they see themselves.

“Withdrawing the civil rights that have only just begun to be extended to transgender and intersex people across our nation could have devastating mental and physical health impacts. Transgender and intersex people have always been an important part of communities and cultures. They cannot be erased—their rights and health should not be either.”


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New Public Health Primer: Engaging Community Development for Health Equity

How can the public health and community development sectors to work together to advance health and racial equity? A new primer from PHI’s Build Healthy Places Network and partners provides a roadmap for forging upstream partnerships, with recommendations, strategies and lessons-learned from national, state and local leaders.

Explore the primer

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