A global crisis for trans healthcare
The recent halt in US foreign assistance has created an unprecedented crisis for trans and gender diverse communities around the world. For decades, US funding, channeled through programs like PEPFAR and USAID, has been a lifeline for grassroots organizations providing essential services, including HIV and STI prevention, treatment and care, hormone therapy and monitoring for adults, and mental health support. With this funding now frozen, the impact is already being felt in communities that are among the most vulnerable.
Many clinics that depended on US funding to provide life-saving healthcare to trans and gender diverse people are now facing imminent closure. These places do not only provide healthcare; they also serve as safe havens for communities that are disproportionately affected by HIV, stigma, violence and discrimination, as well as systemic lack of access to general healthcare. Without immediate action, we risk losing decades of progress in global public health, trans health and human rights.
- HIV services at risk: The trans and gender diverse community is 20 times more likely to acquire HIV than the general population. Community clinics that receive money from the US have been critical in providing treatment and prevention services. The funding freeze jeopardizes the continuity of care for thousands of trans people, putting lives at risk.
- Mental health crisis: Trans and gender diverse people experience alarmingly high rates of depression and suicidal ideation. Many trans-serving clinics offer vital counseling and peer support, and these lifesaving services are now on the brink of being shut down.
The consequences of inaction
This sudden withdrawal of funding is not just a financial loss; it is a direct attack on the human rights, dignity, and survival of trans and gender diverse communities around the world.
- HIV crisis: Without access to life-saving HIV treatment and prevention, transmission rates will surge, reversing decades of hard-won progress.
- Loss of healthcare access: Without access to safe, affordable healthcare, trans people will be pushed underground and forced to seek unsafe, unregulated alternatives, putting their lives at risk.
- Mental health emergency: Without critical counseling and peer support, the suicide rate will rise in an already vulnerable community.
- Community networks at risk: Without operational community-led organizations, access to vital services and trust within trans and gender diverse communities will be threatened, undoing years of advocacy and empowerment.
This isn’t hypothetical; it’s happening right now. Clinics are already drastically reducing services, turning vulnerable clients away, and preparing for the worst.
A call to action
At GATE, we are already working to mitigate this crisis. But we cannot do this alone.
We call on:
- Philanthropic foundations, governments and private donors to step in and provide emergency funding to frontline clinics. Now is the time for global solidarity to ensure that funding remains uninterrupted.
- International organizations and multi-lateral agencies to prioritize trans and gender diverse healthcare funding in their emergency response strategies, recognizing the specific vulnerabilities of trans communities.
- Corporate donors and socially responsible businesses to allocate funds for trans and gender diverse healthcare initiatives as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.
How GATE can help you to support trans communities:
- Connecting donors to clinics: We have a database of trans-serving healthcare providers in urgent need of funding. GATE is ready to connect interested donors directly to these clinics for direct donations or grant opportunities.
- Acting as an intermediary donor: GATE is ready to serve as an intermediary donor to ensure the rapid disbursement of funds.
The halt in US foreign aid is already causing severe harm. We cannot afford to wait while trans and gender diverse communities lose access to essential healthcare. Each day without funding puts more lives at risk. We urge donors, international organizations, and the global health community to act now. GATE is prepared to help keep funding flowing and ensure that trans and gender diverse communities continue to receive the life-saving care they need.
Contact us now at global-crisis@gate.ngo.
