Trans Awareness Week & Trans Day of Remembrance – An understanding of gender identity & mission-based work through Gender Affirming Care

By: Corey Maxim & Bruna Borges, Co-Leads of the LGBTQIA++ Affinity Group and TJ Lynch, IT Manager

Transgender Awareness Week is an opportunity for allies, friends, family, coworkers, and supporters to learn about trans issues, support trans rights, and work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting environment for people of all gender identities. It involves creating a deeper understanding to humanize gender dysphoria and the diverse spectrum of gender identities beyond the cisgender male and female binary (gender identity that matches sex at birth.)

This spectrum of expression in gender identity are ever evolving and are raising the question of why we need to limit ourselves and our identities to one specific default assigned gender identity.  Non-Binary, Gender Non-Conforming, and Gender-Queer individuals are also pushing the boundaries of identity and social acceptance while dissecting what our assigned identities really mean, all while reclaiming and asserting their own identities by exploring the expression of femininity and masculinity as a part of living within our own diverse lived human experiences.

It is important to note, Trans and Non-Binary identities are not the same.  Though there is often fluidity to interpretations and expressions of these identities in a spectrum; these titles may change over time as many navigate trying on these identities to see what fits best.  It is important as allies to respect, observe, and validate the pronouns and chosen shared identities to demonstrate the compassion, support, love and understanding they deserve.  Even if you don’t understand what it means to be Trans, it’s important to remember that we are all human, we’re all trying to figure out how to live authentically as ourselves and we all deserve acceptance and grace of navigating our own identities and experiences.

Barriers to Gender-Affirming Care

Gender-affirming care encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity when it conflicts with the gender assigned at birth (gender dysphoria). This care helps Trans people align emotional, interpersonal, and biological experiences with their gender identity.

Major barriers of receiving Gender Affirming Care are:

• Poverty and lack of health insurance
• Private and Public Health Insurers denying treatment
• Lack of medical providers with expertise, especially in rural communities
• Discrimination and mistreatment by health providers
• Religious and political discrimination
• Homelessness – 35% of nonbinary, 38% of trans women, and 39% of trans men youth reported being housing insecure or homeless

Compared with cisgender adults, Trans & LGBTQIA adults experience higher rates of adverse mental, physical, and behavioral health outcomes due to the imparted shame of families, peers, and others their communities:

• Trans adults report higher rates of smoking tobacco some days or every day compared with cisgender adults, at 59 percent and 39 percent, respectively.
• 60 percent of Trans adults report having poor mental health at least one day in the past month compared with 37 percent of cisgender adults.
• 54 percent of Trans adults report having had poor physical health at least one day in the past month compared with 36 percent of cisgender adults.

Trans women (Male to Female, MTF) are internationally recognized as a population group that carries a disproportionate burden of HIV-positive rate of 20%. Medicine has evolved in the past decade with solutions to prevent transmission of HIV with 99% efficacy with “Pre-Exposure Prophylactics” medications, but this requires insurance and care providers who are attentive, compassionate, and affirming to offer these solutions.

Barriers to care are impactful to the trans community, and the good news is that more and more resources are becoming available for those seeking Gender Affirming Care.  Fenway Health leads research initiatives worldwide by providing critical specialized healthcare services to LGBTQIA++ families, adults, and youth. The Multicultural AIDS Coalition (MAC) provides education, prevention, and screening for HIV and STIs and is the fiscal sponsor of Boston Pride for the People – the largest pride event in Massachusetts. Insource also provides support for other non-profit Community Health Centers throughout the state. Community Health Centers are committed to providing affordable health care to all regardless of income level, insurance status, or ability to pay.

Insource and the Insource Services LGBTQIA++ Affinity Group are proud to support these organizations providing critical mission-based work for all walks of life and celebrates and supports our cultural diversity.

If you know any peers or friends who may be adversely affected by the lack of resources or care associated with gender identity, or would just like to learn more: Please see a list of resources below:

• Gov Gender Affirming Care Terms & Concepts
• TERMS AND DEFINITIONS- UNDERSTANDING THE LGBTQIA2S+ COMMUNITY
• Gender Multidisciplinary Service (GeMS) Program

If you are looking for ways to help or support the Trans community, please consider donating to some of the Nonprofit organizations that help protect, advocate, and defend the rights of Trans people below:

The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Trans Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community.

Glad: Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD): is at the cutting edge of the historic fight for full equality and justice and works in New England and nationally on legal issues affecting LGBTQ people and people living with HIV. Through impact litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education, GLAD’s precedent-setting work has stretched protections for LGBTQ+ and people living with HIV/AIDS. Glad is also an Insource client!

The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Trans Youth (BAGLY)is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community.

The Trans Emergency Fund (TEF) supports low-income and homeless trans individuals in Massachusetts, assisting with homelessness prevention, shelter assistance, nutrition assistance, prescription co-pay assistance, transportation, and escorts to medical appointments, etc.