A local pediatrician is raising awareness about important terms to know, understand and use appropriately when interacting with the LGBTQ+ community.

Montefiore pediatrician Dr. Lauren Roth sees patients, is an assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and teaches residents who are training to become pediatricians. Dr. Roth says, "I have been really working to try to train future pediatricians in the right terminology to use, how to make your environment a safe space so your patients feel comfortable talking to you about it."

Dr. Roth says the biggest thing that she wants to get across is the difference between the sex assigned at birth and the gender. She says, "There is a gender spectrum. It is not just boy or girl you know, there is a wide range of gender identities. And it is important to be supportive and kind and respectful to all of those people."

She also works to educate people on important terms such as gender expression, cisgender, transgender, gender diverse and non-binary.

Dr. Roth says the important thing to remember is to encourage all parents and doctors to be supportive.