APhA Releases New Guide on Trans Inclusion for Pharmacies on Trans Day of Visibility

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, which is the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) partnered to release a new guide for pharmacies on transgender and gender-diverse inclusion, titled “Providing Inclusive Care and Services for the Transgender and Gender Diverse Community: A Pharmacy Resource Guide.”

The guide was created by HRC and APhA as a resource to help educate pharmacists and pharmacy staff on methods of supporting inclusivity for transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse patients.

“Transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people everywhere deserve competent care when visiting any health care provider, including pharmacies,” said Tari Hanneman, HRC director, Health & Aging Program, in a press release. “This resource, released today to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility, will help pharmacists and pharmacy staff provide trans-competent and trans-inclusive care to all of their patients. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to partner with the American Pharmacists Association on this critical resource.”

There are 6 qualities outlined in the guide as being important for the inclusion of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals in pharmacy. These qualities include the knowledge of key LGBTQ terms, inclusive communication, gender-related data management, visible symbols of support, staff training, and knowledgeable and patient-centered care.

In order to help pharmacies effectively implement these 6 qualities, the guide also details how specifically pharmacies can introduce inclusion-focused practices in their everyday work. In order to make these resources accessible for quick reference, HRC and APhA also plan to release several shorter versions of the guide for pharmacists and pharmacy staff to use throughout the workday.

Held annually on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates transgender and non-binary individuals the world over. Living openly and authentically takes strength, determination, and bravery, and this day acknowledges the power and beauty of these qualities in these individuals.

However, there are ongoing occurrences of violence and discrimination that many transgender and non-binary people face globally, requiring the attention and awareness of society to change. This day is an important reminder of the need for individuals to continue to educate themselves regarding the importance of inclusive communication and visible signs of support for transgender and non-binary individuals in order to more broadly educate society.

In the United States, there is an especially high occurrence of violence and discrimination focused toward trans women of color and Black trans women specifically. The violence and discrimination these women face are an ongoing threat to their health, wellness, and even survival.

“We are proud to partner with the Human Rights Campaign to develop and share this resource on providing inclusive care and services for people that identify as transgender and gender diverse,” said Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, senior vice president, pharmacy practice and government affairs, in the press release. “Helping pharmacists and pharmacy staff become familiar with the particular needs of patients that identify as transgender and gender-diverse is a high priority for APhA, and we are confident that our members will find this guide useful and applicable to their work. The pharmacy profession holds itself to the highest standards of conduct, and the lessons that can be learned from this guide promote treating patients that identify as transgender and gender-diverse with the utmost care and respect.”

REFERENCE

Human Rights Campaign and American Pharmacists Association Release New Guide on Trans Inclusion for Pharmacies on Trans Day of Visibility. Washington, DC: Human Rights Campaign Foundation and American Pharmacists Association; March 31, 2021. [email] Accessed March 31, 2021.