Inside hours of his inauguration, President Donald Trump solid forward on govt orders focusing on transgender and gender nonbinary folks. His administration’s actions have already stripped entry to federal paperwork aligning with trans and nonbinary folks’s gender identification, barred transgender folks from serving within the navy, and compelled incarcerated trans girls to be housed alongside males in jail.
Everyone knows {that a} Trump presidency is a risk to many marginalized people’ security, rights, and elementary freedoms. His hateful rhetoric has emboldened lawmakers throughout the nation to introduce over 670 anti-trans discriminatory items of laws in 2024 alone, marking the fifth consecutive file breaking yr since monitoring of such payments started. His administration is barely taking our nation additional backwards.
However right here in New York, we are able to—and should—stand agency and battle again within the face of those assaults.
Now we have a accountability to safeguard LGBTQIA+ protections in our state, particularly for TGNCNBI figuring out folks.
Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers have a possibility to fulfill this harmful second with daring, impactful management by increasing the Lorena Borjas Transgender Wellness and Fairness Fund (TWEF)—a multi-million greenback fund supporting well being and human providers for trans New Yorkers. First handed in 2022, annual funding for TWEF has steadily elevated with a complete of $11.25 million invested in over two dozen organizations’ workforce readiness, suicide prevention, and well being and wellness applications for trans New Yorkers.
The state should bolster earlier commitments by growing TWEF’s annual allocation to $6 million yearly—a obligatory funding within the wellbeing of trans and gender nonbinary New Yorkers.
At Governor Hochul’s current State of the State deal with, we have been upset by her lack of direct, vocal help for the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. Trans and nonbinary New Yorkers particularly wanted to know the Governor has their again. She provided no solace for trans and nonbinary folks getting ready for the Trump administration, and made no point out of TWEF.
However Governor Hochul can change course this price range season.
By growing TWEF’s annual allocation to $6 million, she could be a forward-thinking, proactive chief that trans-led and trans-serving organizations want. The extra $2 million requested would guarantee applications designed for trans persons are well-resourced to offer important well being and human providers and defend towards assaults on trans communities.
Already, TWEF has funded applications that assist trans folks throughout the state entry well being and human providers, together with psychological well being help, gender-affirming care, preventative care, workforce applications, and extra.
As an example, The LOFT LGBTQ+ Group Middle utilized TWEF to ascertain two help teams for incarcerated trans and nonbinary people at correctional services in Westchester. The funding has additionally allowed the LOFT’s Trans Assist of the Hudson Valley program to extend case administration, well being providers, and title change help to trans folks within the area.
The Translatinx Community has expanded healthcare, employment, and social help providers to tons of of trans immigrants—guaranteeing they’re totally seen and supported.
TWEF is significant to make sure New York stays a real sanctuary for trans people and their households within the face of those assaults. TWEF has been supporting trans New Yorkers since 2022, along with supporting trans folks new to the state who’re compelled to flee different states with hostile, anti-trans situations.
Governor Hochul: Be part of us in main the nation’s battle for trans rights and dignity.
Let’s fund TWEF at $6 million yearly and guarantee New York State stays a frontrunner in justice and fairness for trans people.
