The Trans Disaster Relief Fund issued a request for donations to support transgender individuals and other members of the LGBTQI+ community during the current Coronavirus emergency. The transgender community is uniquely at risk during this emergency because of a higher than normal incidence of unemployment, homelessness, and lack of access to quality healthcare.
Dr. Paige Padgett with the University of Texas School of Public Health said, “on any given day, the trans community faces significant discrimination.” She went on to say, “During a public health crisis, we need to provide effective support for our most vulnerable populations. For the transgender population, this need is amplified, resulting in serious negative health outcomes.”
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Alexis Melvin, TFA President said, “In order to respond to the trans, intersex, and gender-expansive population’s immediate needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, we urgently request donations to the Trans Disaster Relief Fund.” She went on to say, “Without these crucial donations, we will not be able to provide the support our marginalized community so critically needs.”
The trans, intersex, and gender-expansive population is at particular risk during disaster events. Depending on the location, anti-trans discrimination is often protected in numerous locations. Those who are not cisgender, even prior to facing a disaster event, are more likely to experience compounding life-disrupting events such as unemployed, homeless, and lack of healthcare. Add to this any form of disaster, the trans, intersex, and gender-expansive population experiences a uniquely catastrophic emergency event.
The Trans Disaster Relief Fund (TDRF) was established in 2017 by the Transgender Foundation of America as a community-based response to Hurricane Harvey. Since then, TDRF has responded to disasters, both personal and community-wide, including natural, economic, and health-based events throughout the nation. Organized in 1998, the Transgender Foundation of America (TFA) is a Houston-based grassroots 501c3 nonprofit that facilitates numerous trans, intersex, and gender-expansive support groups and community events. Additionally, it maintains the Transgender Archive and provides annual scholarships to trans-supportive academics, represents trans health concerns with health departments across the nation, trains organizations, companies, and schools throughout the nation and pioneered trans homeless, social, and medical services.