metro Hunter from page 10 ments are not covered," said Kathleen LaTosch, project director for the Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Health Equity Council of Southeast Michigan, the group formed to carry out the work defined by the grant. "Many doctors and nurses don't understand the trans- gender experience" Transgender people also face social discrimination when seeking medi- cal care. The 2011 survey cited earlier revealed 19 percent of the respondents were actually denied treatment because of their gender identification, while another 28 percent experienced verbal harassment from medical staff mem- bers. LaTosch and her committee will work with local health care providers and administrators, as well as members of the LGBT community, to identify the problems and develop a strategic plan to address the issues and correct the disparities. Every Israeli is counting on Magen David Adorn, Israel's national emergency medical and ambulance service and providers of the nation's blood supply, including 100 percent of the blood used by the Israel Defense Forces. Your investment in MDA will help replenish urgently needed medical supplies and fund an ambulance in honor of our chapter founders. MDA is not government-funded, so please give today and join us at the gala on September 11th. For sponsorships, tribute journal ads, and gala reservations, visit www.afmda.org/mames-gala or call 877.405.3913. Celebration of Life Gala Thursday, September 11, 2014. 5:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Ahm, West Bloomfield Featuring Guest Speaker - Dr. Eilat Shinar, M.D. Director of MDAs Blood Bank R.SV.P. by Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Dr. John J. Mames Chapter — Michigan Region Manny Charach, Chair • Cari Margulis Immerman, Director 23215 Commerce Park Road, Suite 306 Beachwood, OH 44122 • Toll Free: 877.405.3913 central@afmda.org AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM SAVING LIVES IN ISRAEL 12 July 31 • 2014 Co-sponsored by: JLWISh[ NLWS "It's a matter of social justice, every person in the community is responsible for everyone else" Bennett said. "We are not here to judge, but simply to take care of each other." His friends from camp and class- mates at school have accepted that Olivia is now Hunter. They realize his clothes and haircut may be different, but the person inside is still the same. Hunter's most ardent supporters are his family members. Roz has become a powerful advocate for transgender people and for the concept of uncondi- tional parental love. She cannot under- stand parents who reject their children because they are gay, transgender or otherwise different from the societal norm. "If you love your children, you have to love them as they are and help them become the best version of them- selves" she said. "Be their advocate. Make it clear your love is uncondi- tional." ❑ Legal Issues We live in a society where our identities are verified by an assortment of docu- ments: driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security card, passport. For transgender individuals, these creden- tials may not accurately reflect their current identities, and changing official records can be time-consuming and complicated. The Keiths have begun the process of legally changing Hunter's name, which they hope to complete before the coming school year. "It was painful for Hunter to see his name listed as Olivia on the school ros- ter" said Roz Keith. Changing the name on his birth cer- tificate requires a different procedure, and altering the gender designation on documents such as birth certificates, passports or insurance policies involves yet another process. Support And Acceptance While many transgender teens have been bullied and ostracized, Hunter has received overwhelming support from his family and the community at large. With the help of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, where the Keiths are mem- bers, Hunter and another teen attended a Shabbaton for transgender teens in Connecticut. The event was sponsored by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Rabbi Joshua Bennett of Temple Israel feels it is important to create a loving and accept- ing environment for all of its members, regardless of sexual Rabbi Joshua orientation or gender Bennett identity. Transgender And LGBT Resources • Affirmations, (248) 398-7105, helpline: (248) 398-GAYS (4297), transgender helpline 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays, www.goaffirmations. org . • Common Ground Sanctuary, 24-hour crisis/resource hotline: (800) 231-1127, or www.commongroundsanctuary. org . • Jewish Gay Network of Michigan at the JCCs in West Bloomfield and Oak Park; email: info@jgnmi.org; (248) 432-5661. • Keshet, grassroots group dedicated to creating an inclu- sive community for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews, www.keshetonline.org . • Jewish Mosaic, the National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, www.jewishmosaic.org . • JQYouth, social/support group made up of observant/for- merly observant LGBT Jews ages 17-30 with an anonymous online discussion group, www.jqyouth. org/index.html. • Michigan Equality, political/ educational advocacy to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, www. michiganequality.org . • The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals (2008) by Stephanie A. Brill and Rachel Pepper.