By Danyelle Rigli, Advocacy Coordinator
This month is LGBTQ Pride Month, and Mountain Family Health Centers is happy to announce the establishment of our Pride Committee. The goal of this committee is to educate and engage employees, patients and the community at large about the LGBTQ communities we serve.
LGBTQ stands
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning or queer. Mountain
Family embraces diversity and believes it is important to educate everyone
about the needs of our LGBTQ friends and neighbors, as well as to ensure that
all patients feel comfortable visiting Mountain Family for their health care
needs.
The Pride Committee is currently expanding member knowledge to train and teach
co-workers at each Mountain Family site about:
- The use of preferred pronouns
- Explaining the differences between gender identity, gender expression and attraction
- Ensuring that every patient who comes through our doors is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve
Committee members include Mountain Family staff and leadership.
Though resources for the LGBTQ community may seem scarce on the Western Slope compared to the Denver Metro area, there are several resources available in the Roaring Fork and Eagle River Valleys. Many schools in the area, including Aspen, Basalt, Eagle Valley, Battle Mountain, Roaring Fork and Bridges High schools as well as the Carbondale Middle School sponsor Gay-Straight Alliance programs. Colorado Mountain College hosts Spectrum meetings on a regular basis. AspenOUT, the Aspen Hope Center and YouthZone offer services to those who need guidance and a listening ear as does the Eagle River Youth Coalition and Mind Springs.
Mountain Family hopes to be added to that list of resources and provide each of our more than 21,000 patients with culturally competent care—no matter where patients live, where they are from or who they love.
For more information or questions about this topic, email info@mountainfamily.org.