*******PRESS RELEASE*********

Press Release: The California Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex Policy Alliance (CTPA) unifies Trans Led Organizations Across the State to strive for Groundbreaking Transgender and Intersex Healthcare Budget Allocation Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

California, USA -- The California Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, Intersex Policy Alliance (CTPA), a coalition of TGI (Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, Intersex) led organizations pushes forth a statewide budget that centers the physical, mental, and spiritual health for the most marginalized TGI communities. Consisting of 25+ of TGI led organizations in Northern and Southern California, the Alliance builds the capacity and leadership of TGI people to create and implement policy change, increase public education, and to gain resources that will improve the livelihood of TGI people, particularly TGI-BIPOC.

Formed in 2020, the CTPA coalition advocated for the passage of Assembly Bill 2218 (Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund) authored by Assemblymember Santiago which created the fund within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of funding holistic healthcare services. Although its passage was historic, no funding currently exists within the fund. As such, the CTPA is requesting $15 million from the State General Fund to the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund.

The goal of this new appropriation is one part in response to the devastating effect that COVID-19 has on the TGI population in CA, namely the TGI-BIPOC community, and one part to counteract the economic adversity that TGI-led organizations face due to the economic downturn caused by the lasting pandemic. This funding allocation is intended to be distributed as grants to organizations that directly serve transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGI) people, as well as healthcare providers that have established partnerships with TGI-serving organizations.

Funding AB 2218 will create and promote the facilitation of holistic healthcare programs and services focused on physical and behavioral health and wellness. It will also include referrals to accessible housing and the expansion of existing supportive housing programs. Moreover, it aims to combat homelessness, economic instability, and difficulties in accessing health care -- barriers that have worsened during the pandemic, and that account as primary factors in the increased health detriments of TGI people.

This requested budget, if approved, would make California the first state in the nation to specifically fund TGI communities.

To learn more about this historic request and the advocates that made this a reality, join us on:

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21ST, 2021 at 10AM PST.

REGISTER: bit.ly/TWEFpressconference