Unspoken Treasure Society is reaching out to request your contribution to ‘Hope for Tomorrow’ for TGNC Youth and young people. In collaboration with the UF Youth Gender Clinic and Planned Parenthood of Gainesville, this event will focus on providing resource information about gender-affirming care to TGNC Youth/Young people and their families, as well as provide visibility and representation of TGNC young people. We are working in collaboration with other local care providers including gender-affirming therapists (counseling centers) to give them the opportunity to participate in this health fair. The goal is to give community members as large of a resource pool as possible.

During the event, we will have a variety of TGNC entertainers performing various talents including but not limited to singing, dancing, youth-friendly drag, and more. In between each performance, the various organizations will have an opportunity to talk about the gender-affirming care they provide and the resources available to make that care attainable. Each organization will also have a table provided that will have 2-3 knowledgeable staff members who can answer questions and provide informational pamphlets to the families attending the event.

This event is necessary because TGNC youth and young people are particularly vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes when gender-affirming care is not available. The Trevor Project 2020 survey reports more than half of Transgender and nonbinary youth have seriously considered suicide.¹ Access to care has a serious impact on the mental and physical health of TGNC youth and young people. The ability to afford care was listed as the strongest barrier to receiving mental health care², which is a vital component of the care youth get at the Gender Clinic. Gender-affirming care is life-saving care. According to the Williams Institute ‘Medicaid Gender Care’ report that was issued in October of 2019, Florida has no explicit policies related to the coverage of TGNC care.³ Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of state employees over the lack of TGNC care coverage.⁴ Alachua counties largest employer is UF. Between state-covered insurance and Medicaid, a substantial portion of our clients are at risk for denial of some or all gender-affirming care. We are dedicated to finding ways to assist with access to that care.

As part of our fundraising efforts, we aim to create a funding pool so families in need can request microgrants to assist with access to care. These microgrants will range from $20-$100 to assist with things such as transportation to the UF Youth gender clinic and Planned Parenthood for services, co-pays for doctor’s visits and medications, and lab work. We also want to provide a scholarship for 1-2 TGNC BIPOC young people to get full access to care. We will cover all doctor’s visit fees, co-payments, medications, and transportation to this young person. This young person will be a BIPOC individual who is uninsured/underinsured and would not otherwise be able to obtain and sustain gender-affirming care.

What does gender-affirming care look like?

TGNC youth and young people have a team of care providers that are necessary for gender-affirming care. They include an endocrinologist, a psychologist, counselors/therapists, a primary care doctor, patient advocates, and knowledgeable pharmacists. Each of these care providers must be well versed in the unique needs of the TGNC person and adjust care accordingly. TGNC youth and young people meet regularly with their doctors to monitor their physical and mental wellbeing. This includes physicals, questionnaires, lab work, ultrasounds, therapy appointments, and more.

Who will have access to the microgrants/scholarship?

The microgrants will be available to the families of TGNC youth and young people who are in need of temporary financial assistance with access to gender-affirming care. The age bracket will be for TGNC individuals 13-24yrs old.

The scholarship will be available to 1-2 TGNC BIPOC individuals aged 13-24 who are underinsured or uninsured.

References

1.       https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020/

2.       https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020/

3.       https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Medicaid-Gender-Care-Oct-2019.pdf

4.       https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-employees-sue-florida-over-state-s-trans-health-care-n1114486