QueerCME is a comprehensive curriculum for providers at all practice and experience levels. The core curriculum starts with the basics –-creating a more affirming clinical environment–and builds on that foundation in subsequent modules. My lived experience as a queer and gender-diverse patient and physician offers new insights to even experienced clinicians. New content building on the core curriculum will be released monthly, which supports the most experienced providers in continued growth.

The building blocks of gender affirming care. 

Block 1: Gender

“Gender” can have as many definitions as people asked, but most include a sense of self and a sense of place in society. My favorite one comes from the TransLanguage Primer: 

“A complex combination of roles and norms, expression, aesthetics, identities, performances, social interactions, and more that are assigned certain meanings by society. Gender is both self-defined and society-defined. How gender is embodied and defined varies from culture to culture and from person to person.”

 Gender is not the same as sex. It is not a binary. And it has NOTHING to do with genitals. Folx sometimes get sexual orientation and gender (or gender identity) confused. Sexual orientation is who you want to go to bed with, and gender is who you go to bed AS.

Block 2: Affirming

Dictionary.com defines “to be affirming” as “to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support.”

 Affirming actions include but are not limited to:

• NOT assuming someone’s gender, pronouns, or titles of address
• Honoring their chosen name and pronouns 
• Avoiding misgendering them in speech or clinical documentation
• Correcting misgendering when it does occur
• Using inclusive paperwork and intake forms
• Providing gender affirming medical care or a warm hand-off to a vetted provider who can
• Having a vetted referral list of affirming specialists 
• Avoiding asking your patients to explain their care needs

If you want more information on terminology regarding gender and transgender concepts, please refer to the TransLanguage Primer, which is an excellent resource developed by folx with lived experience. 

If you want more information on language in gender affirming medical care but aren’t ready to enroll in QueerCME, try our free webinar on the evolving language of gender affirming care.

QueerCME offers two levels of membership: