The New York City Health Department today recognized Transgender Day of Remembrance issuing a request for proposal (RFP) that will fund community-based providers to develop and pilot a curriculum-based workshop for transgender men to promote their general and sexual health.
This opportunity will focus on increasing such services to populations in underserved geographic areas of New York City. Funded organizations will design and implement a social media campaign to both promote the workshop and promote trans men’s health and sexual health in general. Health care providers will also be educated by funded organizations to become more fluent in addressing the health care needs of transgender men, including transgender MSM. The Health Department’s goal is to improve the sexual health of transgender men, including transgender MSM. The Department of Health also issued “Health Tips for Trans Men and People of Trans-Masculine Experience,” a booklet that includes health care information for New Yorkers of trans-masculine experience. The new booklet complements “Take Pride, Take Care: Tips for Transgender Women’s Health,” which was issued earlier this year. The RFP can be found at healthsolutions.org and the booklet is located at nyc.gov/health.
“The Health Department stands with all transgender New Yorkers in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance in honor of those murdered because of anti-transgender prejudice. The Health Department is committed to providing resources, reducing stigma, and promoting the health of all transgender New Yorkers, which is why we are expanding our programming and launching our new booklet for trans men and New Yorkers of trans-masculine experience,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett.
“It is crucial that we support the general and sexual health of New Yorkers of transgender experience. As important consumers of HIV prevention and treatment services, we are intent on working with people of trans-masculine experience to make NYC a place that embraces them and provides resources and care that support their gender identity, general, and sexual health. Trans-informed healthcare is HIV prevention of the highest order,” said Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of HIV/AIDS Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.
“On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the memory of transgender loved ones,” said Council Member and Health Committee Chair Corey Johnson. “We also look to the future with renewed determination to affect change and remove barriers that transgender New Yorkers face every day. One of those barriers is access to healthcare, and transgender men face a unique set of challenges. I commend the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Commissioner Mary Bassett for undertaking this initiative that will help improve health outcomes for transgender New Yorkers, particularly transgender men.”
“Transgender Day of Remembrance was created to honor the people we have lost,” said City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “But we also must recommit ourselves to improving the lives of our trans brothers and sisters both today and in the future. I’m heartened to see Commissioner Mary Bassett and her team at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene expanding their work with transgender people in underserved areas of our city and producing a booklet for trans men to complement existing resources for trans women. It is a crucial step toward improving the lives of transgender New Yorkers, who face additional barriers to receiving health care.”
“On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the lives of our transgender family, friends and neighbors who lost their lives to violence,” said NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm. “I stand with my colleagues in the Council and the Health Department as we work to erase the stigma and discrimination transgender New Yorkers face daily, and thank Commissioner Bassett for leading this effort to improve the health of transgender men in NYC.”
“The transgender community, particularly trans people of color, faces many healthcare and well-being challenges that must be addressed in diverse ways. The new health publication for transgender men and funding for community-based providers will begin to tackle barriers and promote positive health outcomes for the transgender community. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s proactive approach to combatting health disparities in the transgender community should be commended and will have a positive impact on the health of transgender New Yorkers. I look forward to working with DOH to continue addressing the health needs of the transgender community across the City,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres.
Transgender persons are noted as a group at high risk of HIV and in need of culturally competent interventions in both the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States: Updated to 2020 and the 2015 New York State Blueprint to End the Epidemic of HIV and AIDS. The new program will create a curriculum for a workshop for transgender men to promote their sexual health that addresses gender disclosure and safer sex discussion; condom and barrier use and negotiation; daily PrEP and emergency PEP to prevent HIV; regular screening for HIV and other STIs; and, the ways that social discrimination and exclusion, experiences of stigma and trauma, and mental health and substance use can contribute to health and sexual health vulnerabilities.
The new program will also create a resource inventory of trans-affirming healthcare clinics and other organizations that provide HIV and STI testing and treatment, primary medical care, and substance use and mental health support. This inventory will be distributed to other community-based organizations that engage the trans community. Finally, the community based organization will create and launch a social media campaign to promote the workshop and to more generally promote transgender men’s health and sexual health.
The Health Department’s new booklet, “Health Tips for Trans Men and People of Trans-Masculine Experience,” offers medical care health tips, explains transgender rights in New York City and the State, talks about taking care of mind, body, and spirit, and offers resources such as transgender-friendly medical providers. The booklet is available immediately online at nyc.gov/health and printed copies can be order through 311.
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