Hudson questions DSS on proactive gender identity screening at intake

And then Chair Fideas and I were discussing, I mean, we totally understand, obviously, and particularly as legislators, the legal limitations that exist around identification.

But we're curious to know how...

aggressively, for lack of a better word,

you all are offering the opportunity for people to, you know, identify a particular way.

Because if it's something where somebody mentions it in a passing conversation, as opposed to

a staff and the front lines, you know, saying, if you happen to identify this particular way, we have resources and services available to you to address specific needs.

So we're just trying to understand how aggressive.

Those options are being provided.

And just as an example, for an accessibility need or a disability, I'm sure we're pretty aggressively offering, if you have

a need or a disability that is invisible to us, we want you to know that, are we doing the same for LGBTQIA plus folks?

That are coming through the system?

Thank you for that question.

So while we don't want to necessarily push or force individuals to identify as such, again, we do ask if they want to complete the voluntary gender ID screener.

So you're asking everybody that?

Correct.

Okay.

And we're also asking for their preferred name.

So some individuals may come in as Sonia, but I may say my preferred name is Samuel.

And it's that point that we will ask whether or not they want to voluntarily complete the screener.

And if not, if they say, you know, well, I identify this.

and I wish to be placed in a shelter that, you know, based on how I identify, then we will accommodate that.

But again, we want to be sensitive and not overly aggressive with individuals that come into our shelter system and allow them to identify how they wish to do so.

And they may choose not to identify at intake, but perhaps they identify once they are placed in their shelter.

And again, they're offered the opportunity to say, you know what, I'd rather be placed in a shelter, you know, again, based on how I self-identify.

Right.

And which we will allow them to transfer to that specific shelter as well.

I probably should have used proactively rather than aggressively.

I didn't mean to imply you should aggressively ask people.

But the point is, and I just want to clarify, are you actually asking everyone during intake if they'd like to complete the form?

Or is it only when somebody has perhaps?

Shared some bit of information relevant that maybe then they're being offered the opportunity to complete that form or assessment.

Thank you.

So I would say it's both.

We are required to ask them, but again, if someone offers information, then the staff will definitely say, you know, please, you know, you should fill the questionnaire, the gender screener.

Okay, thank you.