Latest news with #SanFranciscoAidsFoundation
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘My Sacred Space': Transgender woman finds home in San Francisco after fleeing native country
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — It's Pride month, and the 'T' in LGBTQ represents transgender people. This year, that community feels especially vulnerable. President Trump has issued several executive orders focusing on trans people. KRON4 reports on the increase in people coming to California and San Francisco for their gender affirming care. While Pride in 2025 kicks off, trans people have become the focus of several executive orders. President Trump has signed off on banning them from girls' sports, the U.S. Military and ended all federal funding of transgender-related healthcare for minors. Kiki Lopez moved to San Francisco from the Philippines three years ago — ready to live as her authentic self as a trans woman. It's something she didn't feel safe doing in her home country. 'This is my sacred space,' Lopez said. 'A difference with tolerance and making sure trans people are protected legally. There are no laws or rules or even healthcare regulations protecting the dolls, the trans women or the trans men who are undergoing gender affirming care and surgery.' She says in the Philippines, the only way she would be able to get hormones to start her transition was on the black market. In San Francisco, the 34-year-old was able to get help through the San Francisco Aids Foundation with her gender-affirming care. 'When I stepped my foot here, especially at the airport, you know what it's as if I'm home. That's what I really felt,' Lopez said. She's not alone. Pride flag creator and activists honored with new sculpture There are around 800 trans people who utilize the services at the Magnet Clinic, overseen by the San Francisco Aids Foundation. Nurse Practitioner Michael Tran says many of his clients traveled to California to get help with their transition. 'Seen an uptick in transgender clients coming in from out of state, as well as other parts of California that are looking for our services,' Tran said. 'Like you said, one of the main reasons why is because in many areas, they are limiting, if not outright banning gender-affirming care in those areas.' There are 26 states that have passed bans on gender affirming care for trans children, including medication and surgery. According to the Human Rights Foundation, nearly 120,000 teens identify as trans in those states. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the constitutionality of laws restricting gender affirming care, but Tran says there are already implications for both children and adults. 'I've had patients say my parents disowned me, I don't know where to go now. I don't' even know whether I want to continue with my hormones,' Tran said. Support at the city and state level feels good for trans people like Lopez, but KRON4 asked her why that support is waning on a national scale when trans people make up such a small population of the country. Less than 1 percent of adults. 'Make a big fuss or issue out of something that they don't really understand. It's mostly about misinformation,' Tran said. She says in the Bay Area, the support is evident. From everyday encounters with strangers on the sidewalk to medical appointments with healthcare providers. That doesn't mean she hasn't encountered transphobia, but it's something that doesn't get the best of her. 'It's scary, but that's what they want you to feel,' Lopez said. 'To be scared and not do anything about it, but to me, when they incite fear that also insights bravery for me.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Judge blocks Trump administration from enforcing anti-DEI orders in grant funding
A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing anti-diversity and anti-transgender executive orders in grant funding requirements that LGBTQ+ organizations say are unconstitutional. Jon Tigar, a US district judge, said on Monday that the federal government cannot force recipients to halt programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or acknowledge the existence of transgender people in order to receive grant funding. The order will remain in effect while the legal case continues, although government lawyers will likely appeal. The funding provisions 'reflect an effort to censor constitutionally protected speech and services promoting DEI and recognizing the existence of transgender individuals', Tigar wrote. He went on to say that the executive branch must still be bound by the constitution in shaping its agenda and that even in the context of federal subsidies, 'it cannot weaponize congressionally appropriated funds to single out protected communities for disfavored treatment or suppress ideas that it does not like or has deemed dangerous'. The plaintiffs include health centers, LGBTQ+ services groups and the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Historical Society. All receive federal funding and say they cannot complete their missions by following the president's executive orders. The San Francisco Aids Foundation, one of the plaintiffs, said in 2023 it received a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand and enhance sexual health services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. The $1.3m project specifically targets communities disproportionately affected by sexual health disparities. But in April, the CDC informed the nonprofit that it must 'immediately terminate all programs, personnel, activities, or contracts' that promote DEI or gender ideology. Donald Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders since his second presidency began in January, including ones to roll back transgender protections and stop DEI programs. Lawyers for the government say that the president is permitted to 'align government funding and enforcement strategies' with his policies. Plaintiffs say that Congress – and not the president – has the power to condition how federal funds are used, and that the executive orders restrict free speech rights.
CBS News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Trans joy overtakes San Francisco's Green Room for Transgender Day of Visibility
International Transgender Day of Visibility isn't until Monday, but some organizations were celebrating early over the weekend. Trans joy took over The Green Room in San Francisco with music, food and awards for people in the community. Mar Omega Williams is a musician, a community activist and a trans woman with big goals. "We're going to save the world," Williams said. Williams helped organize this Trans Day of Visibility celebration. The event highlights local transgender achievements and initiatives and featured activists and artists. Williams was one of them. Williams transitioned just four years ago and it changed her life. "It was just like the most freeing thing because before I used to disassociate just to get through every day and that's not healthy at all," Williams said. She grew up in Vacaville and says there wasn't much trans representation there. Moving to San Francisco and creating music helped give her the confidence to find herself. "To be a part of that is really soul nourishing and I can't believe that it's real, and it is real because we're out here together and you just need to find each other," Williams said. Dozens of organizations were a part of putting on the event, including San Francisco Pride, the San Francisco Aids Foundation and San Francisco Trans March. Eli Berry with the Trans March says this event is different than most trans events. "Usually a lot of what we say when it comes to the visibility of trans people is about death so this event is to celebrate our accomplishments, our joy, our resilience and beyond," Berry said. He says after President Trump was elected in November the trans community needs more visibility to maintain their safety. "This administration, straight out the gate, is not playing, like 'oh no, we don't like you all and these are all the things we're going to take from you and you shouldn't exist and we're going to make it very hard for you to exist'," Berry said. "Our community is severely under attack by the administration right now," said Williams. "They say, first they come for the trans, then they come for the Muslims, then they come for the Jews, then they come for the immigrants, they're going to come for all of us." Williams is concerned the trans community will continue to be targeted over the next 3 and a half years, but she says she believes they will be able to get through it together. "I'm scared there's going to be more, but I'm not scared of fighting that either," Williams said. While Trans Day of Visibility is just one day of the year, the community is always working to make sure trans people are recognized every day.
