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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mateo Guerrero, Trans Justice Leadership Program Manager at Make The Road New York, on Trans Equity and Healthcare Funding
2:10:37
·
3 min
Mateo Guerrero from Make The Road New York testified about the urgent need for increased funding and support for transgender and gender-expansive communities in New York City. He highlighted the escalating threats from federal policies and called for bold investments in health, housing, and safety for these communities.
- Urged the city council to fully fund the Trans Equity Fund at $10 million, prioritizing trans-led organizations
- Requested $15 million to protect TGNB (Transgender and Gender Non-Binary) healthcare providers at risk of losing federal support
- Called for $10 million allocation to support providers caring for runaway and unhoused trans and queer youth
Mateo Guerrero
2:10:37
Good morning everybody.
2:10:39
Sharon RCs and council members, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
2:10:43
My name is Matteo Guerrero and I am the trans justice leadership program manager at Make The Road New York.
2:10:50
And I'm here to share our concerns with the budget and an impact that it has particularly on trans and gender nonconforming, nonbinary New Yorkers.
2:11:00
Our trans and gender expansive communities are facing escalating threats from the federal government, including the attempts to roll back health care protections, attacks on gender affirming care, and efforts to undermine our civil rights.
2:11:15
These policies are putting our lives at risk, and it is black and brown, migrant, low income, and youth, young people who are experiencing the brunt of these attacks.
2:11:25
This is why today we're urging the city council to stand with us and make bold and meaningful investments in our community's health, housing, and safety.
2:11:33
And we're asking the city council to use every tool to expand and preserve programs and increase services and protections for trans and gender expansive care and people.
2:11:45
So the first one is fully funding the Trans Equity Fund at $10,000,000 and prioritize trans led groups.
2:11:51
The Trans Equity Fund was created to address deep disparities in health, housing, and employment for our communities.
2:11:57
Raising the fund from $3,250,000 to $10,000,000 is not just necessary, but it is urgent.
2:12:05
This funding must go directly to transgender organizations that are best equipped to reach, support, and heal our communities.
2:12:12
The second one is an investment of, 15,000,000 to protect, TGNB health care providers under attack by federal policy.
2:12:21
As the White House and the Department of Justice move to strip away health care protections, New York City must step up.
2:12:29
Trans people rely on providers offering gender affirming care, culturally competent care, and these providers, many of them clinics and small community based health centers, are at risk of losing federal support.
2:12:41
The city must allocate 15,000,000 to ensure they remain open and accessible.
2:12:46
And the third one is allocating 10,000,000 to support providers, caring for runaway and on house trans and queer youth.
2:12:54
Too many young people in our communities are pushed out of their homes into dangerous situations.
2:12:59
Our our shelters and service providers are the best that they can, but without sustainable city city support, they cannot meet the need.
2:13:09
And 10,000,000 is the bare minimum required to help trans and queer youth survive and rebuild their lives.
2:13:16
The budget is a moral document, and it reflects what the city values are and whether it is serious about equity, inclusion, and care.
2:13:24
And transgender diverse people, especially trans migrants, have been told for too long to wait, and we cannot wait anymore.
2:13:31
We ask the city council to act boldly, unapologetically, and with equity at the center.
2:13:37
Thank you so much.