28 September, Lisbon, Portugal – At the 28th WPATH Scientific Symposium, a session focused on decolonizing trans health research encouraged larger organizations to support trans-led efforts through funding and capacity building. The session also highlighted the radical progress that some local and national trans-led organizations are making and how community-centered health partnerships among them are thriving.
The session opened with Sarah Fadich, who provided an insightful overview of the historical impact of colonial medicine. She stressed the importance of adopting a decolonizing mentality in trans health research, which can be achieved through community-led organizing. Fadich advocated for large or international organizations to work “with” not “on” trans communities. She referred to larger institutions as potential “grant daddies,” suggesting they should play a supportive role by providing funding and building capacity within local and national trans-led organizations to empower them in managing their own grants effectively.
Sari L. Reisner, a trans man and Director of Transgender Health Research at the Fenway Institute, presented Féminas, a grassroots organization in Peru led by Leyla Huerta and funded by amFAR, as a case study. Féminas is now a registered NGO that, despite the lack of funding, has been creating jobs and offering capacity-building opportunities for trans and gender diverse communities in Peru. One of its notable initiatives is La Casa Trans, a safe space in Lima for trans women facing homelessness. This sanctuary not only offers shelter but also provides workshops addressing key aspects of the trans experience, including suicide prevention and self-love.
Reisner indicated another important project called “UNICXS” which aims to adapt components of Fenway’s Violence Recovery Program to increase the capacity of Peruvian partners to systematically respond to violence and human rights violations faced by trans and gender diverse people.
Izack A. Zaccharias presented Impulso Trans, a Mexican organization dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of trans and gender diverse people. Their work focuses on advocating for healthcare, legal recognition, and social inclusion of the trans community. The organization also promotes policies and initiatives that advance the quality of life for transgender people and fight against discrimination in Mexico. A significant aspect of their work includes DiversyCliniq, which offers health-related services like pre-surgery counseling.
Concluding the session, Casey Orozco-Poore emphasized the continued importance of protecting and creating artistic spaces as sources of healing for trans and gender diverse individuals. They highlighted the role of ballrooms as such spaces, referring to them as “salva vidas,” meaning “lifesavers,” underscoring their transformative impact on the local community.