HAWAII HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST PERCENTAGES OF ADULTS THAT IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER IN THE COUNTRY.

AS THE COMMUNITY BECOMES MORE VISIBLE ‑ MANY ISSUES FACING THEM HAVE COME TO THE FOREFRONT.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES WITH OUR PANEL OF ADVOCATES AND EDUCATORS NEXT ON INSIGHTS HAWAII.

HAWAII 41ST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF POPULATION IN THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS WHO IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER ACCORDING TO A UCLA STUDY.

SMALL BUT GROWING COMMUNITY IN SOME WAYS THRIVES BUT STRUGGLE AGAINST BIAS AND LACK OF ACCEPTANCE.

BEST WAY TO LEARN WHAT BEING TRANSGENDER IS LIKE IS LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES.

LIVESTREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M OLENA HEU.

ACCORDING TO THE UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW’S WILLIAMS INSTITUTE IN A 2015 REPORT, HAWAII HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS THAT IDENTIFY AS TRANSGENDER IN THE COUNTRY.

THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY’S FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION, ACCEPTANCE, AND EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW HAS BEEN A LONG AND COMPLICATED JOURNEY.

WHILE THE COMMUNITY MAYBE MORE VISIBLE THAN EVER BEFORE, 2021 HAS SEEN A RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS INTRODUCED AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

TRANSGENDER YOUTH ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE.

A LOCAL STUDY SHOWED ‑ THAT GENDER NON‑CONFORMING YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE, BE BULLIED, USE ALCOHOL, DEAL WITH DEPRESSION, AND DROP OUT OF SCHOOL.

WHEN COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, HAWAII IS A RELATIVELY LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY STATE IN TERMS OF PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW AND GUIDELINES IN SCHOOLS.

IS THE STATE DOING A GOOD JOB LIVING UP TO THE MANDATES PRESCRIBED BY THOSE POLICIES?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR MESSAGE US YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, ON TO OUR GUESTS KIM COCO IWAMOTO IS AN ATTORNEY, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND SERVED ON THE HAWAII STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SHE HAS DEDICATED MUCH OF HER PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE ADVOCATING FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES HERE IN HAWAII.

PROFESSOR TATIANA KALANIOPUA YOUNG IS A LECTURER OF ANTHROPOLOGY, ETHNIC AND GENDER STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AND HAWAI'I PACIFIC UNIVERSITY.

SHE IS A CO‑FOUNDER OF HALE MAHU AT PU'UHULUHULU UNIVERSITY, AN ACTUAL PLACE OF HAWAIIAN LEARNING, AND A DEDICATED TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST‑SCHOLAR WHO HAS SPENT DECADES ADVOCATING ENVIRONMENTAL, GENDER, AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

DR. RENEE PEDERSON RUMLER IS THE CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF THE LAVENDER CLINIC.

SHE WORKS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, AND PROVIDERS, ABOUT GENDER DIVERSE HEALTHCARE.

DR. PEDERSON IS AN ADVOCATE FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO NEEDED MEDICAL CARE FOR GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE.

KALEO RAMOS IS AN EDUCATOR AND TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST WHO HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF HAWAII’S MOVEMENT TOWARD TRANSGENDER EQUALITY.

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HE HAS ADVOCATED FOR KEY LEGISLATION ‑ ALLOWING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO MORE EASILY CHANGE THEIR GENDER MARKERS ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION, AND HAS FOUGHT AGAINST INSURANCE COMPANIES DISCRIMINATING AGAINST TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TONIGHT.

IT IS AN HONOR AND I'M REALLY REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DID WANT TO TALK TO PROFESSOR TATIANA TO KIND OF GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE TRANSGENDER, AND ALSO, BECAUSE HERE IN HAWAII AND PACIFIC, MAYBE IF YOU CAN ELABORATE WHAT BEING MAHU IS AND HOW THEY DIFFERENTIATE FROM EACH OTHER.

>> MAHALO NUI FOR THE QUESTION.

IN HAWAII, WE'RE VERY UNIQUE.

WE HAVE A CREATION CLUB STARTED KUMU LIPO.

ORIGIN STORIES CONNECTS US TO ALL THINGS COME BEFORE.

DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE OF LIFE.

AND IN OUR MO'OLELO, IN OUR KUMU LIPO, THERE ARE STORIES OF WAHINE, LAI, FIRST SEX, SECOND SEX IS KII, MAHU AND THE THIRD SEX IS KANE.

WHO IS MALE.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE AFFIRMING CREATION STORIES THAT CREATE ROOM FOR A KIND OF FLUIDITY AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIRD GENDER SPACE THAT IS VERY UNIQUE.

>>Olena: EXCELLENT.

ALSO, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM TRANSGENDER.

WHAT IT EXACTLY MEANS.

WHAT WOULD YOU EXPLAIN IT AS FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED?

>> TRANSGENDER CAN BE WHERE YOU ARE SOMEONE MORE OR LESS IDENTIFIES WITH THE GENDER OUTSIDE OF THE ONE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.

THIS IS JUST SORT OF, MORE ABOUT LIKE WHO YOU ARE.

WHEREAS THAT'S YOUR GENDER IDENTITY.

AND YOUR SEXUALITY IS LIKE WHO YOU LOVE.

SO WE CAN THINK OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS, NOT NECESSARILY AS DISTINCT FROM MEN AND WOMEN.

THERE'S SOME FLUIDITY THERE.

SO I KIND OF WANT TO PUSH AGAINST THIS IDEA THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE SOMEHOW OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY.

OR OUTSIDE OF MEN AND WOMEN.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE OHANA AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COME BACK TO THAT AND CIRCLE BACK TO THAT, THAT FOUNDATION OF OUR CULTURE AS HAWAIIANS AS OHANA.

WHERE WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF WAHINE, MAHU AND KANE.

>>Olena: YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ADVOCATING FOR TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW?

>> ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF I PASS FORWARD US THROUGH THE HISTORY THAT PROFESSOR YOUNG SHARED WITH US ABOUT THE CULTURE AND PLACE OF HAWAII.

AND SPEED THROUGH PAST THE COLONIZATION.

SETTLORS COMING TO HAWAII BRINGING CHRISTIAN BASED CULTURES.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME, MOVIE ABOUT THAT KUMU HINA WAS A PART OF MAKING A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE, KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE ANIMATION ABOUT THAT COLONIZER EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THE IMPACT IT HAD ON TRANS, MAHU CULTURE IN HAWAII.

FAST FORWARD TO 1963, SAW MAYOR BLAISDELL FORCE TRANS, MAHU WAHINE TO WEAR PINS THAT WOULD SAY I AM A BOY OR A MAN AND IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY WERE FINED $500.

SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT $500 MEANT IN 1963.

AND THAT LAW WAS IN PLACE FOR TEN YEARS.

DURING THAT TIME, THERE'S BEEN ACCOUNTS, CONNIE FLORIST IS DOING THAT DOCUMENTARY ON THAT PERIOD OF TIME CALLED GLADES PROJECT.

INTERVIEWED PEOPLE FROM THAT ERA, WOMEN WHO ACTUALLY ACCOUNT THAT OVER 30 WOMEN MURDERED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND SO THAT IS THE WORST PART OF WHERE WE WERE, I THINK, IN THE HISTORY OF WHAT THE IMPACT SETTLORS AND COLONIZING EXPERIENCE HAD HERE IN HAWAII.

THEN YOU SPEED FORWARD 40 YEARS AFTER THAT, 2002, HAWAII CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, TOOK ITSELF FIRST CASE, GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION IS INCLUDED UNDER SEX.

SO THEY BEGAN THE INVESTIGATION OR PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING A CASE CALLED REGIS RGS.

INVENTORY SPECIALIST.

SIX TRANS WOMEN WERE EMPLOYED BY A COMPANY WHO ACTUALLY REALIZES THEY WERE ALL TRANS AND FIRED THEM.

SO THE COMMISSION THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY TOOK A STAND AND AAFFIRMED TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WERE PROTECTED ON THE BASIS OF SEX.

BECAUSE BEFORE SEX, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

SO THAT WAS A STATE AGENCY MAKING THAT FIRST MOVE.

THEN SINCE 2005, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS GOT TOGETHER.

THIS IS AFTER THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND ALL OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND THAT VERY PAINFUL TIME IN HAWAII'S HISTORY.

SO THEY NEEDED SOME WIN.

TURNED THEIR FOCUS ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS, WHICH IS HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, AND EMPLOYMENT.

AND SO IN 2005, IT WAS CODIFIED THAT INDEED, DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION IS INCLUDED AS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX.

2005 FOR HOUSING AND IN 2006 FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.

TOOK A LITTLE WHILE LONGER FOR EMPLOYMENT TO GET THAT PROTECTIONS.

THEN MORE RECENTLY, I'LL LET KUMU KALEO DISCUSS MORE OF THE OTHER LAWS PASS MORE RECENTLY.

>>Olena: THANK YOU.

KUMU YOU HAVE QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIENCE WHETHER IT COMES TO BIRTH CERTIFICATE CHANGES.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATE CHANGES, THERE WAS TWO MAIN REASONS WHY WE WERE GOING TO DO THE ‑‑ WELL, THREE, FOR YOUTH, WHO NEEDED TO SHOW BIRTH CERTIFICATE AT SCHOOL IN ORDER TO YOU KNOW, TO IDENTIFY OR LIKE TO HAVE THEIR, SOLIDIFY THEIR IDENTITY AT SCHOOL AND CHANGE ALL OF THEIR DOCUMENTS, THEIR SCHOOL DOCUMENTS, LIKE THEIR, ALL THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS IN SCHOOL.

THEN THE SECOND ONE WAS FOR OUR KUPUNA.

SO THE KUPUNA, FOR THEM, IT WAS A LOT OF THEM WHO WERE, WHO WERE DYING.

AND WHEN THEY WERE DYING, THEIR DEATH CERTIFICATES WAS SAYING, LIKE MALE OR FEMALE.

WHATEVER WAS ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

AND SO I THOUGHT THAT BY THEM BEING ABLE TO AMEND THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATES, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ON THEIR DEATH CERTIFICATE LATER ON WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

AND SO THAT THEY CAN FINALLY BE RECOGNIZED AS WHO THEY WERE ALL ALONG.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE WAS FOR ATHLETES.

THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL WHO REALLY WAS, HER ABILITY TO PLAY IN THE U.S. VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION, IT WAS DEPENDING ON THAT BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR HER TO CHANGE IT.

AND SO WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO CHANGE HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IT OPENED THAT DOOR FOR HER TO PLAY IN THE U.S. VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION.

THAT WAS A HUGE GOAL OF HERS.

BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, SHE WAS INSPIRED TO DO OTHER THINGS LIKE ENROLL BACK INTO COLLEGE.

SEEK OUT LIKE HIGHER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT THAT WAS, 2015, WHEN WE DID THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, WHEN WE DID THAT, LAW CHANGED, IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF OPPOSITION AND SITTING THROUGH AND LISTENING TO THE OPPOSITION SAYING LIKE NOW WE CAN CHANGE OUR ETHNICITIES.

LIKE JUST MAKING ALL OF THESE COMMENTS ABOUT IT.

HEAVY IN THE MEDIA TOO.

SO THROUGH THE MEDIA, AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL OF THAT, PEOPLE SAID A LOT OF MEAN THINGS BECAUSE AFTER A LONG TIME, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT WAS HITTING OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.

AND FOLLOWED RIGHT AFTER THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE, THAT WHOLE DRAWN OUT THING.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WHAT IS CAME RIGHT AFTER.

PEOPLE WERE ALREADY FUELED UP ON BOTH SIDES.

SO BUT WE DID, WE PASSED THAT AMENDMENT AND IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE, BIT TEARY EYED AT THE END.

WHEN WE GOT THE LAW PASSED BECAUSE I KNEW THE LIVES THAT IT WOULD CHANGE.

I KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THAT ONE LITTLE MARKER ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE WAS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER.

>>Olena: HOW MEANINGFUL IS IT FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE IN BLACK AND WHITE THE GENDER THAT YOU IDENTIFY AS?

>> I THINK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSGENDER, WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN THEY, BEFORE, PEOPLE USED TO GO AND CHANGE THEIR LICENSE AND THEN, ON THEIR APPLICATION, USED TO WRITE LIKE M OR F, WHATEVER THEY IDENTIFY AS.

AND THEN GUESS WHO THE DMV, USED TO CHANGE IT ON TOP THE LICENSE.

REALIZED IT'S A MISTAKE.

THEN CALL YOU TO BRING BACK YOUR LICENSE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO CORRECT IT.

FOR THOSE VERY FEW MOMENTS OR THOSE HOURS, IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR THAT PERSON TO SEE THAT LITTLE M OR F ON TOP OF THEIR LICENSE AND PEOPLE WHO WERE CISGENDER, JUST KIND OF LIKE, LIKE I'M M OR I'M F. LIKE REALLY NOTHING.

BUT FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS TRANSGENDER, THAT'S LIKE SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO JUST SEE THAT LITTLE MARKER.

SO KNOWING THAT THEY COULD AMEND OR CORRECT THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN HAWAII, AND IN HAWAII, WE HAVE A SPECIAL LAW THAT THEY DON'T JUST MAKE THE AMENDMENT ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE WHERE YOU CAN SEE.

WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

THEY MAKE YOU WHOLE NEW ONE.

WHAT THEY DO IS THEY VAULT YOUR OLD ONE.

PUT IT LIKE IN THIS VAULT AND NOBODY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

YOU KNOW, UNLESS IF THERE'S A COURT ORDER OR SOMETHING REALLY HUGE.

SO FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS TRANSGENDER LIKE KNOWING THAT, THAT PROCESS, AND BE BEING ABLE TO CHANGE IT, IS LIKE SO, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS HOW MEANINGFUL THAT IS FOR SOMEBODY.

YOU CAN BRING SOMEBODY TO TEARS.

BECAUSE THIS WAS A BARRIER FOR PEOPLE LIKE TO GET JOBS AND TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BARRIER FOR LOT OF PEOPLE.

TO EXPLORE AND THIS, IF YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS, HOW MANY TRANSGENDER STUDENTS ENROLLED INTO COLLEGE, AND HOW MANY OF THEM FELT LIKE EVERYTHING WAS LIMITLESS, I MEAN, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING TO WITNESS.

KNOWING THAT YOU'RE A PART OF IT, EVEN MORE SO.

>>Olena: I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT FEELING TO KNOW THEY'RE A PART OF CHANGE HISTORY MUST HAVE BEEN SO REWARDING.

TALK A LITTLE BIT GENDER IDENTIFICATION AND HOW THAT MIGHT EFFECT SOMEONE IN GETTING CARE.

>> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR CURRENT EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE KIND OF FOLLOWING FROM THESE INITIAL EFFORTS.

SO FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATE RIGHT NOW, THEY STILL REQUIRE A PHYSICIAN AND DEAR DO TO HAVE A BONA FIDE PHYSICIAN PATIENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PERSON AND STATE THAT THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED THIS YEAR.

ADDITIONAL HOOPS JUMP THROUGH.

>>GUY: BEGAN PARTICULARLY IN THE DRIVERS 'LICENSE.

USED TO FILL OUT FORMS IN OUR OFFICE WHERE WE CERTIFICATE WHERE THIS PERSON WAS MALE FEMALE, ANOTHER GENDER.

SEND IT OFF.

WE DO THAT BY ASK SECRET.

ASK THE PERSON.

GENDER IDENTITY IS INTERNAL GENDER.

WE DON'T REQUIRE SURGERY TO CHANGE ANY OF THESE THINGS.

LITERALLY IS TELL ME YOUR STORY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HERE IS YOUR FORM.

I OBVIOUSLY, PHYSICIAN/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP HAVE MEDICAL THINGS TO GO WITH IT.

IN TERMS OF DETERMINING GENDER IDENTITY, IT'S AN INTERNAL IDENTITY, YOU GET FROM THE PERSON.

HUGE VICTORY YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE.

YOU CAN GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH YOUR TRUE GENDER ON IT.

TELL PEOPLE AND THEY'LL DO IT FOR YOU.

SEE PEOPLE LIGHT UP.

I WANT TO SAY AT LEAST 20 PATIENTS WHO COULD IN THE GET THEIR LABS DRAWN BECAUSE THE LABS REQUIRE A PHOTO ID TO DRAW BLOOD.

AND RUN MEDICAL TESTS.

A LOT OF OUR PATIENTS SINCE THEIR NAME AND GENDER WAS NOT WHO THEY WERE, THEY STRATEGICALLY LOST THEIR LICENSES AND THEN WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS ANY OF THOSE.

QUESTION A LOT OF IN HOUSE LAB DRAWS FOR PATIENTS WE COULD CERTIFY WHO THIS PERSON IS AN GET THAT INFORMATION.

WE'RE STILL TRYING TO MOVE THE MEDICALIZATION OUT BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE ARE INDIVIDUALS AND ALL OF US I THINK ANGELA SAID IT BEST, MORE LIKE MY FRIENDS THAN WE ARE UNALIKE.

ALLOWING EACH OF US TO BE THE BEST WE ARE TAKING MEDICAL PART OUT OF THAT, PART OF ALL OF US.

WE ALL NEED MEDICAL CARE.

LOOKING AT THE REDUCTION OF SOMEONE THROUGH MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR THROUGH PATHOLOGICAL LABEL, JUST DOESN'T APPLY IN THIS CASE.

GETTING MORE EDUCATION AND MORE COMFORT AROUND THAT IDEA OF THERE'S A HUGE SPECTRUM OUT THERE IN GENDER IS ONE OF THEM.

AND PROFESSOR YOUNG, YOU MENTIONED GENDER EXPRESSION.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTH CLARIFYING THOSE TWO THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

INTERNAL GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, MAY BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN YOUR GENDER EXPRESSION.

THAT COULD BE THAT YOU IDENTIFY AS MALE BUT LIKE TO WEAR SKIRTS OR GENDER ROLE TYPE OF THING.

YOU LEARN MECHANICS LIKE ME, I LIVE ON A BOAT SO I HAD LEARN DO ENGINE THINGS.

STEREO TYPICALLY AREN'T IN LINE WITH GENDER.

OPEN IT UP AND UNDERSTAND THERE'S MORE THAN JUST M BOX AND F BOX, KIND AFTER ALLOWS EVERYBODY TO BE A LITTLE STRONGER AND BETTER.

>>Olena: DOCTOR, CAN YOU TELL US MORE SPECIFICALLY I WHAT THE LAVENDER CLINIC DOES?

>> YES.

WE ARE PRIMARY CARE AND WE ALSO HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ARM.

WE ARE A MEDICAL CLINIC AND WE ALSO ARE JUST KIND OF A COMMUNITY CENTER AND WE SERVE ANYONE AND EVERYONE, ANY PERSON WHO WANT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PROVIDER, WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE, THEY'RE WELCOME HERE.

AND WE, KIND OF, FOCUSED A LITTLE BIT ON THE GENDER DIVERSE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE TIME, WE ACTUALLY STILL ARE THE ONLY CLINIC IN THE STATE OF HAWAII THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON GENDER DIVERSE HEALTH CARE.

SO WE DO FILL THAT NATION ARCHIVE EXPERTS IN THAT AREA.

ACTUALLY OPEN TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE.

>>Olena: WONDERFUL.

PROFESSOR YOUNG, IF YOU COULD TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY THAT YOU HAVE FOUNDED, HALE MAHU, WHAT KIND OF THINGS YOU'RE DOING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY I COFOUNDED IT WITH SEVERAL OTHER KANAKA ACTIVISTS, ALSO MAHU, LIKE KAALA JOHNSON.

HELANI HELIA.

PART OF OUR ROLE ON THERE ON TOP OF MAUNA KEA WAS TO RECLAIM OUR CREATION STORIES, TO RECLAIM OUR INTERSEXUALITY AND TRANSGENDER IDENTITY AS PART OF OUR CULTURAL HISTORY.

VERY VALUABLE KIND OF GETS US OUT OF THIS BIOMEDICAL FRAMING AND THINKING ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIPS BEYOND JUST THE HUMAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE INTERSEXUALITY.

YOU HAVE AUTO SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN NATURE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE UNNATURAL.

INTERSEXUALITY CONDITIONS ARE ACTUALLY NATURAL.

THEY ARE PART OF OUR LIVING CONDITIONS.

SO WHEN WE RECLAIM THOSE CULTURAL NARRATIVE, ABOUT LAILAI AND KII AND KANE, AND ACTUALLY, SEE GENDER BEYOND THIS KIND OF BINARY, IT ACTUALLY HELPS TO LIBERATE EVERYONE.

IF YOU'RE A WOMAN WORKENING A TRADE PREDOMINANTLY MALE CENTERED ALLOWS YOU TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THAT SPACE WHEN YOU CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE CHALLENGING EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON YOU BY VIRTUE OF YOUR ASSIGNED GENDER.

WE HAVE TO THINK ALSO ABOUT TRANS PHOBIA AND HOMOPHOBIA TOOLS FOR SEXISM AND THE ROOT OF THAT IS STEREOTYPE ABOUT THE WEAKNESS OF WOMEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE WILL SAY, TRANS PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS BECAUSE WOMEN ARE INHERENTLY WEAKER.

THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

YOU WOULD SAY, YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF CASES WHERE MAYBE A MAN WOULD BE STRONGER BUT NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

WE SEE THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING.

I THINK IT WAS THIS PAST YEAR, ACTUALLY A WOMAN, YOUNG WOMAN, THAT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

SO I THINK THAT IDEAS ABOUT AGENDA AND SEXUALITY ARE CONSTANTLY AEVOLVING AND I THINK THE TREASURE OF HAVING KIND OF YEAR INDIGENOUS IN OUR CREATION STORIES ACTUALLY HELPS US TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.

>>Olena: HAVE YOU ALSO FOUND THAT IN OTHER CULTURES SIMILAR STORIES THAT CAN BE TOLD AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I GREW UP PART‑TIME IN HAWAII AND WASHINGTON STATE.

AND I HAD A NUMBER OF FAFAFINE, SISTERS WHO HELPED CREATE AN ORGANIZATION CALLED UNITED TERRITORIES OF PACIFIC ISLANDERS ALLIANCE.

AND SAMOAN CULTURE HAS A VERY STRONG FAFAFINE PRESENCE AND IS VERY SIMILAR TO HAWAII BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE OHANA, WE HELP TAKE CARE OF KIDS.

WE HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDER.

WE ARE PART OF THE OHANA.

WE ARE NOT LIKE EXCUSED FROM THE OBLIGATIONS OF BEING PART OF THE OHANA.

SO I THINK YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC, YOU KNOW, OUR CONCEPTUALIZATION OF OUR IDENTITIES AS TRANS PEOPLE IS CENTERED IN CARING FOR OUR FAMILIES.

AND CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND I THINK THAT IS A BENEFIT TO EVERYONE.

>>Olena: DEFINITELY.

SPEAKING OF CARING FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, I KNOW COMMISSIONER KIM COCO OWE YOU'VE BEEN A FOSTER PARENT TO SOME TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THE PAST AS WELL.

>> YES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ACTUALLY, THE POINTS THAT PROFESSOR YOUNG RAISED WERE REALLY INSTRUMENTAL, THAT KIND OF AWARENESS WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN PASSING THE PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS PROTECTIONS.

BECAUSE LIKE SHE SAID, WHEN YOU DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A TRANS PERSON, YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THIRDS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO A STORE, OR NEPHEWS AND NIECES OR ELDERLY PARENT THEY'RE CARING FOR, ALL OF THE FAMILY GETS DISCRIMINATED ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THEIR OHANA IS KEPT OUT OF BUSINESS OR PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.

HURTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

YES, SO TO GO BACK TO ME BEING FOSTER PARENT TO TRANS, I KNEW I WAS WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY FOR A TIME, AND I HEARD STORIES ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THEN WHEN I RETURNED TO HAWAII, I WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH FOSTER KIDS THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS CALLED PROJECT VISITATION.

IT BROUGHT FOSTER KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR SIBLINGS AND PLACED INTO DIFFERENT FOSTER HOMES BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.

SO ONE OF THINGS THAT I REALIZED I KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE, THERE WAS TRANS YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WEREN'T BEING AFFIRMED IN THEIR HOMES, IN THEIR FOSTER HOMES.

AND WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM.

INDEED, AFTER I GOT LICENSED, SOCIAL WORKER, FIRST YOUNG PERSON BROUGHT TO MY HOME, THE SOCIAL WORKER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SHE WAS IN A HOME WHERE THE PARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS SHAVED HER HAIR OFF AND READ HER SCRIPTURE ABOUT HOW GOD MADE ADAM AND EVE, NOT ADAM AND STEVE.

DID ALL OF THESE REALLY ABUSIVE THINGS.

WHEN THE SOCIAL WORKER DISCOVERED WHAT THEY DID TO HER, THEY REVOKED THEIR FOSTER PARENT LICENSE.

AND SO THEY PUT HER AND PUT HER WITH ME.

AN HONOR.

SO MANY YEARS AGO NOW.

20 YEARS AGO.

I STILL MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF THEM TO SOME EXTENT.

>> AND YEAH, IT IS WHAT THROUGH THAT ADVOCATING FOR THEIR EXPERIENCE AS STUDENTS THAT LED ME TO ACTUALLY TO RUN FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF BULLYING HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS.

ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME.

IT WAS JUST RAMPANT.

AND THERE WAS NO ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION LEVEL.

SO I SAID WE SHOULD CHANGE THE SYSTEM FROM INSIDE AND WE'RE ABLE TO PASS A LOT OF NEW GUIDELINES AND SO FORTH.

>>Olena: THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND HELPING THOSE TEENS.

MY UNDERSTANDING SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FROM THE FAMILY PERSPECTIVE TO ACCEPT, AND OFTENTIMES, THEY ARE KICKED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

CAN YOU GUYS SPEAK ON WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE AND WHERE OUR TEAMS ARE TRANS TEAMS CAN GO AND WHAT KIND OF TONIGHTS THERE ARE FOR THEM TO GROW AND THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW.

MAYBE KALEO?

>> SO, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON OUR SYSTEMS.

ALL OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL BARRIERS FOR KIDS ACCESSING SERVICES IN THESE AREAS.

FOR EXAMPLE, GROUP HOMES, GROUP HOMES ARE STILL NOT OPEN TO TAKING IN TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, OR KIDS, LIKE THAT ALIGN WITH HOW THEY IDENTIFY.

SO IF WE HAVE A TRANSGENDER GIRL, SHE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN ALL FEMALE HOME.

WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE IN ALL MALE HOME.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IN OUR SOCIAL SERVICE AREA.

I THINK THAT LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, WHEN COMMISSIONER IWAMOTO WAS TALKING ABOUT THE GLADES, THAT TIME PERIOD, DURING THAT SAME TIME PERIOD, I THINK IT WAS LIKE THE SIXTIES, 70s, AROUND THERE, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, THERE WAS LIKE HOUSE MOTHERS AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ISLANDS, THEY HAD LIKE A HOUSE MOTHER THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS IN THEIR AREAS.

AND THEY WOULD GROW THE CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN WOULD GROW UP AND THEN THEY START THEIR OWN HOUSES.

IT WAS LIKE A WHOLE GENEOLOGY OF THESE HOUSES.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE.

HOUSES.

AND FROM THAT, THERE IS MANY HOUSE MOTHERS NOW, AND HOUSE FATHERS AND THEY KIND OF JUST PLAYED THAT ROLE LIKE, FOR THE STUDENTS.

OR FOR THE KIDS.

KEEP SAYING STUDENTS.

>> YOU'LL DAY, I'M WITH STUDENTS.

WITH THE CHILDREN, THEY PLAY THAT ROLE AND THEY TEACH THEM ABOUT LIKE SENSE OF OHANA, BELONGING, HOLIDAYS, HOW TO LOVE EACH OTHER, LISTENING TO WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY JUST MENTOR THEM AND ADVISE THEM AND GROW THEM.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AND WHEN I FIRST CAME OUT, LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, I CAME OUT INTO A HOUSE LIKE IN ONE OF THE HOUSES AND I HAD A FATHER FIGURE AND HE STILL SERVES HEAVY ROLE IN MY LIFE AS A FATHER FIGURE.

I CALL HIM MY HANAI DAD.

AND I CAN GO HIM AND ASK HIM MANY QUESTIONS AND HE MENTORED ME AND THE DO'S AND DON'TS, BE AWARE OF THESE AREAS AND YOU KNOW, LIKE THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE VENTURE INTO THOSE HOUSES AND THEN ALSO, LIKE OUR HAWAIIAN FAMILIES, THEY TAKE IN KIDS ALL THE TIME.

HANAI KIDS ALL THE TIME.

SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT WENT TO THEIR FRIENDS HOUSE AND FRIEND'S MOM LIKE, OR DAD, HELP TO DO RAISE THEM.

AND GIVE THEM A SAFE SPACE TO BE.

IN HAWAII, LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT FOR TRANS KIDS THAT DON'T STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

SOMEBODY IS ALWAYS THERE TO JUST TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>>Olena: IS THERE A PLACE TO GO FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS, FEELS ALONE AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNOW, I USUALLY, WE REFER LIKE WHEN WE, LOTS OF TIMES TEACHERS REALLY GOOD ABOUT IDENTIFYING THESE YOUTH AND REFERRING THEM TO COUNSELOR, COUNSELORS ARE REALLY GOOD AT CONNECTING THEM WITH SERVICES TO OTHER AREAS OR CONNECTING THEM WITH OTHER TRANS PEOPLE.

IN MY YEARS OF TEACHING, A LOT TRANS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IN MY SCHOOL OR THE SCHOOLS THAT I WORK AT AND I USUALLY CONNECT THEM WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THE LAVENDER CLINIC IS ONE.

KUAANA PROJECT IS ANOTHER ONE.

OUT OF HAWAII HEALTH AND HARM REDUCTION CENTER.

SUBPROJECT CALMED KUAANA PROJECT.

I CALL THE AUNTIES OVER THERE, TELL THEM MY SITUATION.

THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS TO OTHER PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT THEY CAN CONNECT AND BRING THE KIDS TOGETHER.

SO THAT HELP THEM OUT.

THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT CHANGES TO THE LAWS REGARDING ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WHO PROVIDE SHELTER TO UNSHELTERED YOUTH, THEY ARE NOW ABLE TO, FOR A WHILE THERE, FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, TOO LONG PERIOD OF TIME A LOT OF THESE AGENCIES WEREN'T ALLOWED TO TAKE IN MINORS, BUT NOW THEY ARE.

I KNOW LIKE RISE, RESIDENTIAL YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERVICES ON THE WINDWARD SIDE, THEY WILL TAKE IN AND VERY QUEER FRIENDLY THERE.

OPEN BY DIRECTOR.

AMAZING.

BUT YES, THERE ARE RESOURCES, MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TODAY.

>>Olena: PROFESSOR YOUNG, YOU ALSO FOUNDED LOCATION WEST SIDE FOR A TYPE OF COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

SO I DID A LOT OF MY RESEARCH PUUHONUA O WAIANAE.

LOOKING AT QUEER AUNTIES AND UNCLES REALLY ESSENTIAL IN CREATING THE ORGANIZATIONAL SPACE IN THE PUUHONUA.

SO I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND THE OHANA.

AGAIN, LIKE I GREW UP IN OHANA WHERE I HAD LIKE 7 MOMS AND LIKE 8 DADS.

AND THEY ALL HAD DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY TAUGHT ME AND IF I HAD ISSUES, WITH SOME TYPE OF THING, I COULD GO ONE UNCLE, ONE AUNTY AND THEY WERE MY MAKUA.

MY PARENTS.

SO I FEEL BLESSED IN THAT SENSE.

LIKE GROWING UP, IN THAT KIND OF OHANA SETTING.

I ALSO HAD MAHU AUNTIES.

AND UNCLES.

SO I GREW UP IN A SPACE WHERE IT WAS OKAY TO BE WHO I WAS.

ALTHOUGH WHEN WE MOVED TO WASHINGTON STATE, THERE WAS DIFFERENT PRESSURES.

I COULDN'T REALLY EXPRESS MYSELF IN THE WAY THAT I COULD IN HAWAII.

BECAUSE WASHINGTON STATE HAD DIFFERENT DEMANDS FOR ME AS A MAHU WAHINE.

WHO CAME OUT AT 16 AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR SERVICES LIKE STONEWALL YOUTH AND JUST ALL OF THE BAD ASS ACTIVISTS THAT FOUGHT TO CREATE SPACES FOR TRANS YOUTH TO BE WHO WE REALLY ARE.

AND THE COUNSELORS AND ALL OF THE CHOSE UNFAMILIARLY THAT HAVE REALLY GIVEN US SPACE TO SHINE AND KIM COCO, I REMEMBER WHEN SHE BECAME, WHEN SHE GOT ELECTED ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO TRANSFORMATIVE AS ME AS A YOUNG TRANS WOMAN LOOKING AT REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION AND NOT SEEING IT, SO THAT WAS REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR ME.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF JANET MOCK FOR EXAMPLE, KUMU HINA, SEE THESE AMAZING MAHU AND TRANSGENDER SUPERSTARS REALLY TRANSFORMING THE WAY THAT THE PUBLIC ENGAGES WITH OUR LIVED EXPERIENCES AND I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>>Olena: THINKING ALSO HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE CAITLIN JENNER AND SHARING THEIR STORY AND HOW IT'S KIND OF EVOLVED, HOW WE EMBRACE OR THE COMMUNITY EMBRACES TRANSGENDER.

DO YOU THINK HEARING THOSE STORIES HELPS, OR WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT?

>> I THINK LIKE A LOT OF US DON'T REALLY, WE'RE NOT BIG FANS OF CAITLIN JENNER NECESSARILY.

SO BUT THERE'S ALSO THAT.

JUST BECAUSE WE'RE TRANS DOESN'T NECESSARILY WE AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER'S POLITICS.

THE POLITICS ARE VERY DIVERSE.

JUST LIKE ANY COMMUNITY.

WE'RE NOT A MONOLITH.

CERTAINLY, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO JANET MOCK, HAS, SHE WAS WRITER ON POSE.

AND POSE AS YOU KNOW, IS EMMY NOMINATED.

MJ RODRIGUES LIKE FANTASTIC AND INDIA MOORE IS GOING TO BE PLAYING A LONG SIDE JASON MAMOA IN THE UPCOMING AQUA MAN.

I THINK THAT SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE PIVOTING AS TRANS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TRANS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING MORE REPRESENTATION.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE TRANS MEN ALSO IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE.

THAT WOULD BE I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO PUSH MORE AS WELL.

>> ALSO, YOUR POINT, AT LEAST HAS OPENED UP MORE DIALOGUE, SO WHILE MAKING REALLY EXTREME EFFORTS TO KNOW NO ONE STORY IS GOING TO BE THE SAME, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AT LEAST IF THEY'VE SEEN ONE EXAMPLE OR SOMEONE THAT HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, AT LEAST MAYBE THEN THERE IS A PLACE TO SPEAK FROM.

AND IT WILL GET COLD CALLS FROM PARENTS.

SOMETIMES I'M SO SCARED, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I SAW THIS THING ON TV AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO FOR MY CHILD?

THOSE ARE OUR FAVORITE CALLS.

BECAUSE THAT IS A PARENT WHO LOVES THEIR KID.

ENGAGED IN DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN FOR THEIR CHILD, WHEREVER THEY ARE.

DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED.

OUR YOUNGEST PATIENT IS FOUR YEARS OLD.

CLEARLY NOT MEDICALLY TRANSITIONING.

IN TERMS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, AFFIRMING PLACE TO BE.

KNOWING WHEN YOU WALK IN THIS DOOR, EVERY PERSON HERE IS GOING TO LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE OR NOT LIKE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.

BUT EITHER WAY, YOU KNOW THAT YOUR GENDER AND YOUR EXPRESSION OF THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AT ISSUE.

SO HAVING SOME PLACES WHERE FAMILIES, PEOPLE, ANYONE CAN COME THAT ARE SAFE, IS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT WE'RE EXPANDING OUT FROM.

TO HAVE MORE OF THEM, FOR MORE PEOPLE, BECAUSE ONE PLACE WON'T FIT EVERYONE.

SO THE MORE CHOICES WE HAVE THE BETTER ALL OF US ARE.

>>Olena: COMMISSIONER, OBVIOUSLY, HAWAII BEING AT THE FOREFRONT OF LAWS ENACTING THEM, DO YOU THINK THAT THE STATE DOING A GOOD JOB OF PERPETUATING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, HAWAII HAS RECALL AND COST ON THE TRANSGENDER MAGAZINE.

HAWAII HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF SO MANY DIVERSITY FIRSTS.

FOR INSTANCE, PATSY MINK WAS THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO BE ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

AND THEN SHE WENT ON TO PASS TITLE IX, WHICH OBVIOUSLY JUST COME FULL CIRCLE.

ACTUALLY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION JUST AFFIRMED, I THINK ACTUALLY SUPREME COURT JUST AFFIRMED TITLE IX.

I'M SORRY, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AFFIRMED THAT TITLE IX DOES INCLUDE GENDER IDENTITY.

BUT ALSO, THE SUPREME COURT, JUST AFFIRMED THAT TITLE 7 DOES APPLY, THAT'S EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION.

U.S. CONSTITUTION EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION.

THAT IT DOES PROTECT TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE AS WELL.

SO THIS WASN'T, I MEAN, INTERESTING WE MAKE THESE STEPS FORWARD AND THEN SOMETHING LIKE TRUMP HAPPENS, AND THEN A LOT OF THESE, THIS PROGRESS WE'VE MADE GETS PULLED BACK AND THEN WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT, NOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS ACTUALLY MORE AFFIRMING AND JUST AND FARE.

SO YES, HAWAII I THINK HAWAII HAS BEEN AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MAUI BORN AND RAISED ACTRESS KELLY CANE.

ON THE NETWORK, AB CNET WORK DIRTY SEXY MONEY.

IN 2007.

BEFORE ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK.

ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT ARI SOUTH.

2013, AFFIRMED HER IDENTITY AS A TRANS WOMAN ON PROJECT WOMAN ALLSTARS.

YES, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF VISIBILITY COMING OUT OF HAWAII.

BUT ALSO, AGAIN, I THINK A LOT OF OUR PROGRESS IS BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE, THE HAWAIIAN CULTURE, THAT EVERYTHING THAT PROFESSOR YOUNG MENTIONED AND KUMU, KALEO MENTIONED, ALL OF THAT REINFORCES THAT HAWAII, FOR ALL OF THE CHALLENGES OF JUST LIVING HERE, THE COSTS, THERE ARE A LOT OF EMBEDDED POSITIVES FOR AFFIRMING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

AND WHO THEY ARE.

>>Olena: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AS FAR AS CHANGES TO THE LAW MOVING FORWARD?

>> I THINK WE'RE STILL WORKING, WELL, I THINK WE STILL, WE'VE MADE GAINS AROUND EQUITY ON HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE.

BUT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE, WE NEED DO A BETTER JOB ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, ONCE UPON A TIME, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES FELT VERY EMBOLDENED TO ACTUALLY PUT IN THEIR RIDERS THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER CERTAIN KINDS OF CERTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES JUST BECAUSE THE PERSON WAS TRANS.

WOULD PROVIDE THESE SAME SERVICES TO NONTRANS OR CISGENDER PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE TRANS, NOT GOING TO GET THAT MEDICAL CARE.

THEY WERE VERY BOLD ABOUT PUTTING IT IN THEIR EXCLUSION, LIST OF EXCLUSIONS.

BACK TO ON THAT, DAY‑TO‑DAY OPERATIONS DAY‑TO‑DAY ADMINISTRATION OF THE HEALTH CARE LAWS ACROSS THE BOARD FAIR.

I WE NEED TO, SOME HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES DOING BETTER THAN OTHERS DEFINITELY NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

>>Olena: THANK YOU.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST ACTIVE IN RIGHT NOW, 2016 LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THAT COMMISSIONER WAS REFERENCING.

THAT YOU CANNOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY.

EXCELLENT STEP.

MANY QUALIFYING PROCEDURES PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO.

BUT THEN THERE ARE STILL OTHERS THAT WE FIGHT FOR EVERY DAY.

PUT ADDITIONAL UNNECESSARY STRESS ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES, THAT ARE ALREADY COVERED BY MEDICAID IN OTHER STATES.

SO WE JUST KEEP WORKING EVERY DAY TO KEEP EXPANDING THAT COVERAGE.

SO THANKFUL FOR THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND WE LOOK FUTURE TO MAKING MORE PROGRESS TO REDUCE THE STRESS ON PEOPLE EXPERIENCING IT EVERY DAY.

>>Olena: WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS TOPIC AND PROVIDING CARE FOR EVERYONE?

>> I GUESS SEEING THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT MAKES IN SOMEONE'S LIFE, TO ACTUALLY JUST BE WHO THEY ARE, IN EVERY INSTANCE, WE HAD A PATIENT COME TO US WHO AGE 13, KNOWN WHO SHE WAS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

FAMILY NOT REALLY SUPPORTIVE.

BUT WOULDN'T STAND IN THE WAY.

SIGNED OFF ON THE CONSENT BECAUSE PARENTS MUST CONSENT FOR AM I MEDICAL INTERSECTION UNDER AGE 18.

AGE 13, ABLE TO START CROSS HORMONE THERAPY.

BE WHO SHE WAS.

ADVOCATE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

TREATED AS FEMALE.

DIDN'T WORK OUT AS ANYONE HAD HOPED.

>> INTENT WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

WATCHING HER NAVIGATE HER LIFE AND GET THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, GET ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL ON THE EAST COAST, COLLEGE, WATCH HER GO THERE, SHE STILL CALLS ME OCCASIONALLY LET ME KNOW HOW SHE'S DOING AND THANKFUL SHE HAD A PLACE TO GO AND HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO NOT HAVE TO WAIT TILL SHE'S 18.

HAVE TO WAIT TILL MID 20'S 30.

OLDEST PATIENT WE HAD TO TRANSITION WAS 82 YEARS OLD.

FOR TO WATCH, SEE SOMEBODY RELAX AND TO WHAT THEY ARE, AND TO EMBRACE THE WORLD SO FULLY, THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING FOR ME.

OUR PHILOSOPHY IN THIS CLINIC IS MORE ABOUT WELLNESS.

AND ABOUT OPTIMIZING YOUR LIFE.

NOT JUST MEETING LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.

YOU'RE HEALTHY ENOUGH.

SEE YOU LATER.

HOW CAN YOUR LIFE BE BETTER?

OTHER HEALTH OR WELLNESS INTERVENTIONS WE COULD SUPPORT YOU AND MAKE YOUR LIFE MORE FULLY LIVED?

WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE FOR.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT.

IN HAWAII, CULTURAL DIFFERENCE THAT PROFESSOR YOUNG AND EVERYONE IS SPOKEN ABOUT, IT'S PROFOUND.

OUR PATIENT CAME FROM NIIHAU.

TOTALLY HAPPY.

NEVER HAD A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE.

JUST THOUGHT MEDICAL TRANSITION MIGHT BE INTERESTING.

OR THE PATIENT FROM FULL ON CAUCASIAN, VERY CONSERVATIVE HOUSEHOLD HAD TO GO THROUGH EVERY BARRIER EXPLAINING EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT EVERY SINGLE THING TO THEIR PARENTS AD NAUSEAM OVER AND OVER, AND THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE FAMILIES RELATED OR HOW, OH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, AUNTY, WE ALL KNOW WHAT TRANS PEOPLE HERE.

BUT ON THE MAINLAND, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I MET HAD MAINTAINED THAT THEY NEVER MET A TRANS PERSON.

>>Olena: UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM.

>> EXACTLY.

SO INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE THAT CULTURAL INTERPLAY AND HOW THAT CAN REALLY BE IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES.

MORE EXAMPLE WAS VERY HERE IN HAWAII THAN I HAVE SEEN IN OTHER STATES.

INTO WONDERFUL.

WE'RE STARTING TO GET QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS.

ALL EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

FIRST FROM FACEBOOK, KANA HER QUESTION IS, DO INCARCERATED TRANS INDIVIDUALS HAVE ANY RIGHTS OR PROTECTIONS WHILE IN CUSTODY?

I'M ASSUMING COMMISSIONER THIS MIGHT BE FOR YOU.

>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.

THEY THEY ARE.

PRISON SYSTEM IS REQUIRED TO TREAT THEM WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE.

THAT IS THE REQUIREMENT, ARE THEY ALWAYS DOING THAT?

I MEAN, ARE PEOPLE STILL BEING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED.

READING A LOT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRISONS DURING COVID.

AND IT'S NOT GOOD.

SO I MEAN, NOT GOING TO BE TREATED, I DON'T THINK, WITH EXTRA SPECIAL CARE.

BUT THEY SHOULD BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND SHOULD BE GIVEN THE MEDICAL CARE THAT THEY NEED.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE LAW.

BUT WHETHER IT'S HAPPENING ON A DAY‑TO‑DAY BASIS IS ANOTHER STORY.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE.

>>Olena: DOES IT HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT TO BE IN CUSTODY ASSOCIATED WITH SEX THAT YOU DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH?

>> I THINK, I'M SURE, JUST LIFE IS MUCH HARDER ON THE INSIDE.

I THINK YOU JUST COMPOUND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF OPPRESSION AND DESPAIR.

I THINK OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER.

>>Olena: DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, JOHN FROM FACEBOOK SAYS, HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY BETTER SUPPORT YOU?

LET'S START WITH KUMU KALEO.

>> I THINK THAT, WHEN YOU'RE AN ALLY TO SOMEBODY WHO IS TRANSGENDER, LOTS OF TIMES THINGS LIKE NAMES AND GENDER PRONOUNS, HOWEVER THEY IDENTIFY, THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

AND CORRECTING OTHER PEOPLE.

I KNOW MANY INSTANCES WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS OR OTHER PEOPLE, FRIENDS, NOT IN THE PRESENCE OF THAT PERSON WHO IS TRANSGENDER, WILL SAY, THEY'RE INCORRECT PRONOUNS OR NAME THAT THEY WERE GIVEN AT BIRTH AND IF YOU'RE IN THAT PERSON IN THE VICINITY OF THAT PERSON, I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE CORRECTING THEM AND STANDING UP INSTEAD OF JUST LAUGHING WITH THEM OR INCREASING LIKE JUST KIND OF INSTIGATING THE SITUATION.

I THINK YOU SHOULD BE AN UPSTANDER.

I THINK LOTS OF TIMES WE, PEOPLE NEED SUPPORTS, WHEN LEGISLATION COMES UP, PEOPLE TESTIFYING AND SUPPORTING THEM THAT WAY.

>>Olena: PROFESSOR YOUNG, I SAW YOU NODDING AS WELL.

WHAT OTHER TYPES OF TIPS OR THOUGHTS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OFFERING BETTER SUPPORT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT CISGENDER, WHICH IS NONTRANS PEOPLE, THAT TERM EMERGES OUT OF TRANSGENDER STUDIES.

SO TRANSGENDER STUDIES IS ALSO A GROWING FIELD.

IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT EDUCATION IS KEY.

AWARENESS IS KEY.

WHEN YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO IDENTIFIES AS CISGENDER OR JUST CISGENDER, YOU MIGHT HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE LIKE TRANS PEOPLE ARE JUST WEIRD.

I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T GET INTO THE MIND OF CISGENDER PERSON.

BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE LIVED UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS OF CIS SOCIETY.

I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT CIS GENDER CAN DO FOR A TRANS PERSON IS JUST AFFIRM OUR EXISTENCE AND IT'S BECAUSE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT HAVE AFFIRMED ME IN MY IDENTITY THAT HAS ALLOWED ME TO FLOURISH.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR ALL OF OUR KEIKI.

TO JUST AFFIRM WHO THEY ARE, REGARDLESS IF THEY'RE TRANS OR CIS.

JUST AFFIRM OUR KEIKI AND LET THEM SHINE IN THE BEST WAY THEY KNOW HOW.

AND SUPPORT ALL OF OUR KEIKI.

>>Olena: ONE THING I WANTED TO DISCUSS IS USE OF PRONOUNS.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE QUITE CONFUSED ESPECIALLY WHEN FOLKS WANT TO BE REFERRED TO AS THEY.

COULD YOU ELABORATE PERHAPS WHAT THIS MEANS AND WHAT IS THE CORRECT PRONOUN?

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S INDIVIDUALIZED, BUT PERHAPS SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO BE OPEN‑MINDED AND LEARN.

>> I THINK THEY THEM, WE US, PRONOUNS THAT ARE MORE OR LESS USED TO KIND OF BREAK OUT, OUTSIDE OF THIS BINARY OF HE AND SHE.

AND SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST IDENTIFY AS NONGENDER, NONBINARY.

MEANING THEY DON'T IDENTIFY AS MALE OR FEMALE OR MAN OR WOMAN.

AND SO THOSE PRONOUNS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO RESPECT HOW SOMEONE SELF‑IDENTIFIES.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE IF YOU GOT A DIVORCE.

YOU STILL HAVE THE NAME, BUT YOU DON'T WANT THE NAME.

AN YOU TELL PEOPLE, LIKE, HEY, I'M GOING BACK TO MY MAIDEN NAME.

CAN YOU RESPECT THAT?

SAY THERE'S PEOPLE WHO KEEP CALLING YOU THE NAME THAT YOU DON'T IDENTIFY WITH.

LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE ANNOYING.

SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT ANNOYING AND THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE KIND TO ONE MORE.

>> CAN I JUST, IF I CAN JUST SHARE ALSO, IF YOU'RE BINARY PERSON, AND YOU GO BY SHE OR HE PRONOUNS OR CISGENDER PERSON, HE OR SHE PRONOUN, YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT PRONOUNS THE PERSON YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING WOULD FEEL AFFIRMED BY, WHAT YOU DO FIRST IS YOU SAY, HI, I'M KIM COCO.

I GO BY SHE, HER, PRONOUNS.

SO THIS WOULD INCLUDE, OLENA, YOU WOULD SAY, HI, I'M OLENA.

I GO BY SHE/HER PRONOUNS.

FIRST OFFER YOURS.

OFFER YOURS BY AFFIRMING YOUR PRONOUNCE THAT YOU PREFER PEOPLE TO REFER TO YOU AS.

AND THEN YOU SAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU FEEL AFFIRMED.

CAN YOU SHARE THE PRONOUNS?

THAT IS HOW YOU BEGIN THE CONVERSATION.

YOU DON'T GO, WHAT ARE YOU?

YOU DON'T PUT THIS BURDEN ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE YOU ARE CONFUSED.

YOU'RE NOT SURE.

YOU OFFER IT.

YOU SEE A LOT OF EMAILS CIRCULATING.

I SEE EMAILS COMING AT ME FROM CISGENDER OLDER ATTORNEYS AT LAW FIRMS AND THEY HAVE THEIR GENDER PREFERRED GENDER PRONOUNS.

PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS, FRIENDS, ALL OVER.

INTRODUCE PEOPLE'S PRONOUNS ON ZOOM.

DOCTOR HAS HER PRONOUNS.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY, IT'S USED TO AFFIRM THAT EVERYONE HAS THEIR PREFERRED PRONOUNS.

AND WHEN YOU PUT IT OUT THERE, IT'S A SIGNAL TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU WELCOME THEM LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PREFERRED, THEIR PREFERRED PRONOUNS ARE.

>>Olena: THANK YOU.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO A PARTY AND YOU DON'T KNOW THAT PERSON'S NAME.

INTRODUCING YOUR NAME FIRST TO PROMPT THEM.

GOOD TRICK.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT TIME.

ONE MORE VIEWER QUESTION.

SO DOCTOR, BRIEFLY IF YOU COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR US BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

LOTS OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE ON LIMITED BUDGET.

WHAT SERVICES CAN THE LAVENDER CLINIC PROVIDE THEM AND WHAT CAN THEY PROVIDE DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER DOCTOR?

>> SO ONE OF THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR CLINIC WAS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE BECAUSE OF MONEY.

CASH RATES ARE VERY, VERY LOW AND WE ALSO HAVE SLIDING SCALE.

IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WOULD FEEL THEY AREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS CARE FUNDING SHOULD NOT BE THE REASON.

AT LEAST FOR US.

WE ALSO PARTICIPATE WITH MULTIPLE QUEST PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.

SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK FULL‑TIME OR MULTIPLE JOBS AND STILL QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.

SO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF THAT YOU MIGHT NEED, WE'RE HERE TO WALK THAT JOURNEY WITH YOU.

>>Olena: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SPEAK MANY HOURS ABOUT.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IF YOU COULD GIVE US FINAL REMARK ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD JUST MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS OUR QUEER INDIGENOUS AND WORKING PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ACTION TOGETHER.

WE'RE IN HAWAII AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL CULTURE AND OBLIGATION HERE TO PEOPLE OF THIS PLACE AND CONTINUE TO MALAMA, CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.

CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR THAT CARE.

>>Olena: THANK YOU.

IF THERE'S ONE MESSAGE THAT I FEEL LIKE I GAINED TONIGHT, IT'S TO ACCEPT EVERYBODY FOR WHO THEY ARE AND LOVE EACH OTHER FOR WHO THEY ARE.

IF WE COULD JUST SHARE THAT LOVE AND THAT COMPASSION, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

MAHALO TO YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS FOR SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE ATTORNEY AND ACTIVIST, KIM COCO IWAMOTO, PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND LGBTQ PLUS ADVOCATE, TATIANA KALANIOPUA YOUNG, CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF THE LAVENDER CENTER AND CLINIC, RENEE PEDERSON RUMLER, AND EDUCATOR AND TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST, KALEO RAMOS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

HOPEFULLY GET TO SEE YOU IN PERSON SOMETIME SOON.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS WE WILL TALK ABOUT BEACH EROSION AND THE EFFORTS TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE OUR BEACHES.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M OLENA HEU FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I, ALOHA, A HUI HOU!