TM Health Justice: LA

Presenting our 2021 report and foundations for change.

watch the World Health Day press conference

media coverage

“New report highlights serious health inequities impacting Transmasculine people in LA County” in the Los Angeles Blade (April 7, 2021)

“How Trans People Are Making Health Care Better for Us All” by Candex Seokyi Louie in Rewire News (March 31, 2021)

We have been invisible in Los Angeles County in terms of health planning and policy. We are miscategorized and erased. We wanted to build our own platform for knowledge and mobilize action for change.

TMHJ:LA organizer

About our work

Health justice

Health care is a human right. We address health inequities experienced by Transmasculine people as a direct result of intersecting forms of oppression. We embrace a holistic approach to health and health care. We recognize the need for trans people to be able to access existing health care systems now, while working to transform society and how health care is organized and delivered in the future. We build on the principles of Health Justice.

Research justice

We research to raise the alarm about health problems facing Transmasculine people in order to address the underlying conditions that drive inequities. We research to resist the history of mistreatment and pathologization of Trans, Gender nonconforming, and Intersex (TGI) people within medical institutions. We research to think together, build skills, and produce new ways of knowing about health and well-being. We build on the principles of Research Justice.

Social and political change

We advocate as an act of love and preservation against erasure and repression. We are part of a much broader social change process that is currently taking place within, without, and against institutions. We advocate for universal access to health care that can fully support the dignity of TGI people. We advocate as part of deeply interconnected struggles for reproductive justice, disability justice, immigrant justice, racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, transformative justice, and social justice broadly.

Collective healing

We create to undo colonial, patriarchal, cis-centered ideas of masculinity that have been used to exploit and destroy difference. We create to unpack, redefine, and nurture positive relationships to gender by expanding our own and society's expectations. We create to nurture spaces to thrive, heal, and grow to where our humanity is seen and respected. Trans people have a long history of organizing to take care of ourselves and each other. We aim to lift up and share these forms of community building health practices. We align our work with other forms of liberatory self-help and mutual aid strategies.

Health justice campaign 2021

Trans people are worthy of love, care and protection. On Trans Day of Visibility 2021, we shared a social media campaign using #TransMasculineHealthLA providing data from our participatory action research and health justice organizing work.

#TransMasculineHealthLA

Five transmasculine BIPOC people smiling and gathered together in front of a blanket in a park with a bright yellow sky, rolling green hills and a knotty, brown tree trunk. Text above the image say “TransMasculine Health Justice: LA. www.tmhealthstudyla.org” — March 31

A colorful bouquet of yellow and peach flowers and green leaves. To the right, text reads "TransMasculine Health Justice: LA: A project by and for transmasculine people to address health care access and health care inequities facing Transmasculine people in Los Angeles County" 2021 TMHJ:LA — March 31 – 2

On a purple background a persons hand with yellow nailpolish roles a purple circular crystal. Above in white says, "Transmasculine Health Justice: Los Angeles. We are a trans-led community-based participatory action research and organizing project based on the principles of research justice, health justice, and collective care." — April 1

On a pinkish-red background a person's arm is visible holding a lighter. The flam is burning held against a patient information form with the word "sex" crossed out and the check boxes for male and female are catching fire. Next to it the text says "Our rage and resource are purposeful to save human life" — April 2

On a pinkish-red background, the headline reads "Transmasculine Health Justice: Los Angeles." Below in white text says "Our goal is to build power for TGI people. For too long, research was conducted about us, without us. We are a by-and-for initiative based in the principles of research justice, healing justice, and collective care." — April 2

Against a pinkish red backgroups is a white heart. Inside the heart, black text says "TRANS CARE IS AN ACT OF LOVE" At the bottom, it says "a loving reminder." And "2021 TMHJ:LA" — April 2

On a pinkish-red background, white text says "the historic transgender wellness & equity fund (assembly bill 2218) was established to support TGI health programs" In black text below, it says "this is one example of how trans people are building power to get the health care we want and need" — April 2

Trans masculinity is healing & nurturing

visibility & health promotion campaign

The #TMHealthLA visibility campaign launched at the Los Angeles Central Library in June 2016 and has since traveled to venues across Los Angeles. The images were taken by and for transmasculine people who live in Los Angeles and is accompanied with positive health messages.

#TMHealthLA

A project of Gender Justice LA.

Gender Justice LA is a grassroots social justice organization led by and for gender non-conforming, two spirit, Black, Indigenous, trans people of color in LA. Gender Justice LA organizes, holds space, provides resources, and collaborates with others so that our communities can: resist oppression, develop community responses to violence, heal from present & historical trauma, and come together in ways that feel brave and affirming.

Land acknowledgement

We honor the Tongva land in which we live and work. Acknowledging the land is one important way to increase understanding that our existence is part of a history of the displacement of Indigenous people. True investment in social justice includes acknowledging the original stewards of this land. By acknowledging this history and the people of this land, we refuse the continued erasure of the Indigenous peoples. We are invested in and commit to a healing process that centers and honors Indigenous peoples’ legacy, in a good way with much respect and gratitude.