By Sam Thomas
For members of the transgender community, finding access to proper healthcare can be a monumental endeavor.
The YWCA of McLean County did their part in easing these barriers Wednesday night by hosting a “Health for All” fundraiser at The Bistro in downtown Bloomington.
Director of Mission Impact at YWCA McLean County Jenn Carrillo said transgender individuals without the means to travel to large metro areas often find themselves in a difficult position.
“People who aren’t able to travel to major cities like Chicago or St. Louis are not able to get the hormone therapy that they need. So there is a big need because there just isn’t anyone covering those folks in central Illinois,” she said.
Proceeds from the fundraiser helped benefit the Bloomington-based Central Illinois Pride Health Center; whose mission is mission is to promote the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ community in central Illinois.
CIPHC Executive Director Len Meyer said something as simple as visiting a doctor can sometimes be a troubling experience for transgender individuals.
“As a transgender individual, you have to explain why your birth gender doesn’t match your gender identity,” Meyer said. “So when you identify as masculine and go to a doctor and they call you by your female name you were born with, it really doesn’t make you feel good about going to see the doctor.”
They added that stigmas attached to the LGBTQ community can cause transgender individuals to avoid regular wellness checks, which can lead to serious health complications.
Dontae Latson, President and CEO of YWCA McLean County, said it’s essential that people from all walks of life make efforts to embrace the LGBTQ community.
“I may not ever feel or know what it’s like to be anything other than a straight cis-male,” he said. “But it is incumbent upon me to listen and open up. At the end of the day, we’re all human beings. We care about each other and we love each other.”
The Bistro pledged to donate a significant portion of their proceeds during Wednesday night’s event to the Bloomington-based LGBTQ health advocacy group.
Sam Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
