Home Police/Fire/Military FDNY inclusion training helps trans community feel respected, protected

FDNY inclusion training helps trans community feel respected, protected

The FDNY has been making all the difference in how EMTs and other frontline workers respond to calls. The goal of the department’s diversity training is to make the transgender community feel more comfortable calling 911.

The transgender sensitivity training is taught by firefighter Brooke Guinan, who knows what it is like to be on the other side of the uniform, needing the help of emergency services while battling depression. She used her personal experience to help write the lesson plan.

“I remember being a trans person dialing 911,” Guinan told PIX11 News, “and genuinely being fearful … I didn’t know how they were going to interact with me, or treat me, or if they would see my humanity.”

Fellow transgender firefighter Krys Freebes said representation matters.

“At the end of the day, we are all humans,” Freebes said.

Original Article