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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Carrie Hawkes, Trans New Yorker, on Gender-Affirming Care Funding
2:45:55
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116 sec
Carrie Hawkes, a trans New Yorker, testified about the importance of gender-affirming care and requested increased funding for trans equity initiatives in the NYC budget. She emphasized the life-saving nature of trans care and the need for supportive environments to prevent suicide among trans individuals.
- Requested $15 million in the executive budget to maintain and protect access to gender-affirming care in NYC
- Called for increasing the NYC Trans Equity Fund to $10 million to support organizations helping the trans community
- Warned about potential federal restrictions on using Medicare and Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care, urging the city to step up in response
Carrie Hawkes
2:45:55
Thank you.
2:45:56
Thank you for allowing my testimony today.
2:45:58
My name is Carrie Hawkes and I'm a trans New Yorker.
2:46:00
I just want to reiterate that trans care saves lives, particularly when trans people are facing hate and violence around the country and around the world.
2:46:09
The best suicide prevention is an accepting and supportive environment.
2:46:13
That means our homes and our cities and our medical professionals.
2:46:18
When I was a trans teener teenager, I almost didn't make it to adulthood because I didn't have the support I needed.
2:46:24
And there's a reason that I moved from Missouri into New York City, a city that respects me.
2:46:29
At this time, I'm asking the city council executive budget to include the $15,000,000 directed to maintaining and protecting access to gender affirming care in New York City.
2:46:40
I support the NYC Trans equity initiative, including increasing the NYC trans equity fund to $10,000,000 to support organizations supporting the trans community, to increase funding for the creation of shelters for trans youth fleeing to NYC because of anti trans oppression and in the face of ongoing and escalating attacks on the trans community, particularly attacks against gender affirming health care by the Trump administration and other peoples across the country, the equity for transgender New Yorkers is already disproportionately faces will increase if the city does not step up.
2:47:20
So I'm asking also that we not give in to this rhetoric to let our rights be stripped away, because the Trump administration will try to prohibit the use of federal fund.
2:47:33
Federal health care including Medicare, Medicaid, and others for gender affirming care.
2:47:38
This threatens access to the necessary and life saving gender affirming care for all trans, non binary, and gender non conforming and expansive New Yorkers most especially those who rely on publicly funded health care.
2:47:50
Thank you so much.