SCRANTON -- In a full auditorium at The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine led a discussion on transgender etiquette.
The state's top doctor is a transgender person and was honored to speak at the fourth annual conference about acceptance and etiquette in the community.
"The message of diversity is a very important message to be able to bring. To create an accepting and more than that, a welcoming and celebratory environment for everyone," Dr. Levine said.
One of the conference organizers and third-year student, Lesley Walinchus-Foster, is eager to learn more about the transgender community. She plans to incorporate what she learns once she becomes a doctor.
"One of the things I want to do is emergency medicine. I want to make sure that everybody that comes through those doors in the emergency department is there because they feel like they can be cared for. And that they will be taken care of in a non-judgmental manner," Walinchus-Foster said.
In light of what has been happening down south, organizers say it's important now more than ever to have this discussion. Organizers say it's important to spread the information to the public.
"What's happening down south is happening out of fear and ignorance. This event is meant to educate people. The more you know, the more educated you are, and the less fear and the less there is to inhibit your understanding of transgender people," organizer Maureen Gray said.
Daye Pope, one of the speakers at the event, travels the country sharing her story as a transgender person.
She's happy that people are starting the conversation and hopes they will become more accepting.
"We should treat everyone equally. We should treat everyone as we want to be treated and that discrimination is wrong. So that's the message that we're taking to people and we're just starting these conversations and most people are really receptive and really open to it," Pope said.
