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What Parents Need To Know About Transgender Individuals

A free informational presentation for parents and community members

Parents and community members are invited to attend a free educational presentation, “What Parents Need to Know about Transgender Individuals” being held Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p/m. at Baxel Hall on the Union County Vo-Tech Campus, 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.

The purpose of the presentation is to help parents and other adults better understand gender identity and transgender issues, and to provide tips on how to speak with children and adolescents about these sensitive topics, as well as addressing any questions or concerns any attendee may have.

 The presenter, Dr. Paula C. Rodriguez Rust of Spectrum Diversity, LLC, is a renowned professional diversity educator and bullying prevention consultant serving schools, workplaces, and community and professional groups statewide. 

“Parents want to know what to do if a child’s classmate is transgender, what to do if his/her own child is transgender,” Dr. Rust said. “My goal is to help parents better understand what it means to be a transgender person, and how we know if a child is transgender.”

“The program is designed to provide an informational experience to help attendees learn more about the terms that we now hear, including ‘gender identity,’ ‘gender expression,’ and ‘sexual orientation,’ to name a few,” said Nora Mislan, Co-Chair of the Union County Human Relations Commission, one of the program sponsors. “There is a whole new youth culture regarding gender.”

“As individuals explore gender identity, it is important to understand as much about the transgender transition as possible,” said Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.  “The transition experience is different for each person. Some may transition socially, legally, and medically.  Some may transition only socially.  And some may not do any of these.  This workshop will provide important information to help parents and youth navigate gender identity together.”

The program, which is free and open to the public, is being co-sponsored by the Office of the Union County Superintendent of Schools.  For more information, please call 908.889.9028.

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