Trans Healthcare MD

To promote trans wellness throughout Maryland by increasing access to affirming services and resources, while nurturing young trans leadership.

"because you shouldn't have to know more than your doctor"

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Find out about our organization, mission and methods.

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Core TeAm

Meet the folks at Trans Healthcare MD!

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An enlightening, engaging and inspiring panel discussion for the FreeState Justice LGBTQ Community Needs Assessment Report Launch. "A lot of what the report says validates what trans people already know, especially community leaders." - Jamie Grace Alexander (@jamiegracealexander), Writer/Poet at the Baltimore Transgender Alliance (@bmoretransalliance). The event closed with a speech by Delegate Gabriel Acavero (@gacevero). "We owe it to our ancestors to be our whole selves, don't check any of your identities at the door." - Delegate Acavero

At the FreeState Justice Community Needs Assessment Report Launch, but still celebrating yesterday's legal victory!

We are overjoyed to report that HB421 has passed in the House with a veto-proof majority! Since the Senate companion bill (SB196) has also passed with a veto-proof majority, SB196/HB421 is now almost ready to become law, mandating a third gender option and gender self-attestation for MVA-issued IDs! Thank you so much to everyone who was involved! If you called, emailed, testified, otherwise worked on it or supported those who did, you helped make this change happen! We'd especially like to thank Delegate Sara Love and Senator William C. Smith, Jr. for introducing the bills in the House and Senate and both them and their staff for the long hours they put in to support this process. A coalition of trans-led and trans-affiliated organizations has been working hard, often behind-the-scenes, to get us to this historic moment. The Coalition includes Trans Healthcare MD, The Baltimore Transgender Alliance (@bmoretransalliance), FreeState Justice, Intersex & Genderqueer Recognition Project, HostHome, Maryland Trans Unity, National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans Recognition Maryland, Trans Terps and Whitman-Walker Health (@whitmanwalker). We've been elated and honored to be a part of this gathering of inspiring and dedicated folks. We've seen the incredible power of this coalition and know great things are in its future! Maryland has just taken a huge step towards providing all trans, nonbinary and gender expansive folks in our state with the dignity, representation and justice we deserve!!! Check out transhealthcaremd.org/news for the coalition's press release! . . . #localpolitics #transpolitics #marylandpolitics #maryland #trans #nonbinary #bmoretrans

Thank you to the LGBTQ Democrats of Montgomery County for hosting Core Team member @lilyamarapastor to speak on Maryland legislation, trans-led organizations in the state and other topics relevant to our communities. . . . #localpolitics #marylandpolitics #lgbtq #lgbtqia #transpolitics #trans

Today we testified in Annapolis in support of HB856, which would provide anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender in certain healthcare settings. #marylandpolitics #localpolitics #transhealth #transpolitics #transadvocate

Congratulations to Andrea Jenkins, the first black trans woman elected to public office in America!!! Her historic victory is a reminder to all of us that change is not only possible, it's happening right now!

Thank you to all of these amazing nonbinary and binary trans advocates from Trans Healthcare MD, @bmoretransalliance @intersexrec , Maryland Trans Unity, Freestate Justice, @transequalitynow , and Trans Recognition Maryland. Photo snapped after the hearing for HB421 to add a third gender marker option to Maryland’s licenses and IDs, and also to initiate self-attestation, and eliminate the need for 2 burdensome medical letters like many states and jurisdictions have done already; for instance our neighbors in DC. We appreciate Delegate Sara Love bringing this bill forward and championing it on behalf of our community. HB421 needs 85 votes for a veto proof majority in the Maryland House of Delegates. Call your delegates today and thank them for supporting and or encourage them to vote Yes!

Thank you to all the inspiring, brave people who came to support SB196 yesterday! This bill is so important to us, as advocates and as individuals. Working together, we can make Maryland an affirming, supportive home for all trans, nonbinary and gender-expansive folx here! #transpolitics #howabillbecomesalaw #marylandpolitics #localpolitics #trans #nonbinary

Trans Healthcare MD is proud to be in Annapolis today to Support SB196 with trans and nonbinary community from: HostHome, @bmoretransalliance , Maryland Trans Unity, @intersexrec , @transequalitynow , @freestatelegal , @annapolispride , and parents of trans youth and nonbinary youth. Thanks to Maryland State Senator @willcsmithjr for introducing the bill, and for all of the senators who signed on to co-sponsor. We're looking forward to self-attestation becoming a reality for trans folks in Maryland, and for the addition of nonbinary/unspecified X marker option being added to licenses and IDs. #transhealthcaremd #transjoy #nonbinary #wontbeerased

Energized and sightly giggly after tonight's @swopbaltimore meeting!!! #RightsNotRescue #sexworkiswork #transselfie #bmoretrans #transhealthcaremd #SWOP

To our trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community, this latest threat from the Supreme Court & US Presidency is our focused call to action. We will continue to grow our connections to one another. We are here. Our joy is our response. #wontbeerased #transgender #nonbinary

Trans organizing at Red Emma's!!! #transhealthcaremd #baltimore #bmoretrans #redemmas

Lee Blinder and Lily Amara Pastor from our Core Team at last night's Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee Listening Session! Thank you to all who hosted and participated; we had productive discussions and met so many of the wonderful folx in the Montgomery County Democratic Party!!! We look forward to working together as we address the issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community! #transhealthcaremd #DCC #democrats #democraticparty #montgomerycountymd #trans #queer #lgbtqia #lgbt

Thank you to J Mase III and Dane Figueroa Edidi from Black Trans Prayer Book for your vision, your work and for inspiring us!!! Check out their video on this beautiful, empowering idea!! (https://www.facebook.com/jmaseiii/videos/2107042632904181/) #TransphobiaIsASin #transpeoplearedivine #transhealthcaremd #translife #transfaith #transselfie #girlslikeus

Here's the last and newest member of our Core Team at Trans Healthcare MD! Lily (she•her) Lily Amara Pastor was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland. She spent years in the music world and has performed with orchestras and bands in a variety of venues, from the Kennedy Center to the Black Cat. For the last six years, she owned and managed a small business in Frostburg, Maryland but has closed the business and is dedicating herself to helping her community, in particular her fellow transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive people of Maryland. Lily’s recent experiences volunteering for the local trans community have been rewarding and humbling. She is excited to continue her service, working towards the larger goals of social, legal and economic justice. Lily enjoys jazz fusion, art museums and intersectional feminism. She is a bisexual trans woman. #transhealthcaremd #transhealthcare #transhealth #trans #transgender #transcommunity #transactivist #transactivism #transadvocate #maryland

Trans Healthcare MD Co-founder Lee Blinder (D19 resident) addressed some of the challenges facing the trans community on Thursday night at the District 19 Legislative forum in Aspen Hill, and Bethesda Beat reported on the forum. Gender self-attestation is the growing standard around the county, and Trans Healthcare MD and other trans led orgs are working on a bringing it to reality here in Maryland. https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/politics/changes-to-gender-laws-requested-at-community-forum/

Everyone here at Trans Healthcare MD is excited for a new year, with new opportunities to connect with and serve our local community! Here's our next Core Team Member, Ezra! Ezra (he•they) Ezra is a 20-something transmasculine person currently living in Baltimore (and loving it!). Originally from a teeny tiny town outside of Pittsburgh PA, he moved to the Baltimore area in 2017 after graduating with a master’s degree in International Policy and Development from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. Ezra has worked for various nonprofits in the city – both on a professional and volunteer basis – and is currently a member of the Law and Policy Committee on the Baltimore City LGBTQ Commission. Beginning this month, he will be working at FreeState Justice as their Case Manager, where he will directly support LGBTQ Marylanders as his full-time job (or as he’d call it, “the dream”). Unsurprisingly, he is passionate about policy writing, racial equity, LGBTQ issues, and advocacy, to name a few. In his spare time, he loves chilling with his wonderful partner, writing poetry, and online shopping. Ezra is always willing to help out, so don’t be afraid to reach out by sending him an email at ezrahalstead@gmail.com.

Meet our Core Team at Trans Healthcare MD! Andy (he•him) Andy was born in Florida and raised in Queens, NY. Andy’s pronouns include he/him/his. Andy is a man of trans* experience who’s family migrated from Jamaica to NYC. Andy and some friends started the first Gay Straight Alliance at his high school in 2003. Andy was a science nerd in high school and was a semi-finalist in the NYC Science and Engineering Fair. Andy graduated from Stony Brook University with a major in Sociology. Andy has worked in the insurance industry for the last five years and currently is an appraiser for one of the largest auto insurers in the US. Prior to working in insurance, Andy worked at Equinox and Starbucks. Andy’s work experience has made him analytical of corporate social responsibility as it applies to the representation of all minority groups within a corporate structure. In Andy’s free time he likes to hike, make craft soaps, listen to music, and write. Andy enjoys the peace and tranquility of being in nature. Andy is also interested in herbalism and likes to collect herbs for medicinal use. #transhealthcaremd #transhealthcare #transhealth #trans #transgender #transcommunity #transactivist #transactivism #transadvocate #maryland

Meet our Core Team at Trans Healthcare MD! Alicia (she•her) Alicia is a native of Baltimore, MD and has been educating people on transgender issues since 2010. She has a knack for public speaking and cooking. Alicia graduated from Towson University with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and still does musical theater to this day! She’s passionate about letting trans youth know they they can have any career they want, like the fire service! Alicia also is an avid video gamer and badminton player. She is currently working with Trans Healthcare MD and is an EMT/Firefighter both in the state of Maryland and nationally. She is excited to be a part of the organization and help out the community! #transhealthcaremd #bmoretrans #transhealthcare #transhealth #trans #transgender #transcommunity #transactivist #transactivism #transadvocate #maryland #baltimore

Meet our Core Team at Trans Healthcare MD! Lee (they•them) Lee was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Montgomery County Maryland. Following that, they spent 14 years learning and growing in Baltimore City and NYC, and returned to Montgomery County 3 years ago. A 17 year food industry professional who learned everything they know about social justice working at all levels of service in that industry, they realized their true passion was working in service to their trans community, and specifically as a nonbinary member of the community. They grew up without having the privilege to see adult out trans and queer folks in Montgomery County, and are passionate about changing that narrative for young persons, and striving to facilitate intergenerational conversations and spaces to connect face to face. They can best be described as a nonbinary trans queer person. Companion to a pirate cat named Basil Pasta Marinara, and a pittie pup named Cupcake (a neighborhood celebrity), they also enjoy learning from our non-human animal friends. #transhealthcaremd #transhealthcare #transhealth #trans #transgender #nonbinary #transcommunity #transactivist #transactivism #transadvocate #transofinstagram #maryland