Digital healthcare platform for the LGBTQIA+ community partners with the organization tasked with ending discrimination faced by Black trans people to fund hormone replacement therapy care.
BOSTON – March 31, 2022 – FOLX Health, the first digital healthcare service provider designed by and for the medical needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, today announced its new partnership with The National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) to continue the work of the FOLX Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Care Fund. The National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition is the only social justice organization led by Black trans people to collectively address the inequities faced in the community, working to end poverty and discrimination seen in health, employment, housing, and education.
The fund, which was underwritten largely by transgender allies and supporters, resurfaces at a time when there is a high need for continued and direct support given recent anti-trans legislation that unequivocally puts the community at risk. Through the fund, the organizations will provide no-cost hormone replacement therapy through FOLX Health to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people who are most in need of access to care. The grants under the HRT Care Fund cover virtual care and messaging, laboratory services, and prescription medication.
The fund is resurfacing at a time when anti-trans legislation across the country is unequivocally putting the community at risk. While the attacks are coming from all sides, this fund is a chance for transgender allies and supporters to not only voice their support but directly underwrite the cost of affirming services for the transgender community.
With the expertise and collaboration of BTAC as a 501(c)(3), the FOLX HRT Care Fund is able to receive tax-deductible donations from community-minded donors, and offer a thoughtful and accessible application process for prospective grantees. Donations for the fund are officially open and can be submitted at https://blacktrans.org/campaigns/folx-hrt-fund/.
In 2021, FOLX Health’s HRT Care Fund raised more than $225k, including $100k from major corporate partner Nordstrom – this resulted in over 100 grantees accessing HRT care through FOLX services. This year, FOLX and BTAC aim to expand this effort while continuing to focus on the most marginalized community members. From the total funding raised, the two will set aside 80% of all grant funds for Black and Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC).
“The LGBTQIA+ community faces an overwhelming amount of challenges when it comes to receiving safe, quality, necessary healthcare. At FOLX Health, our goal is to provide support and healthcare access to non-binary and trans folks – in an affordable and safe setting that understands their needs and challenges,” said FOLX CEO Liana Douillet Guzmán. “With the help of partners like BTAC, we’re grateful to be able to provide HRT to those in need, as 85 percent of trans people receive or want to start hormone replacement therapy, but one in three transgender people live in poverty and have avoided healthcare due solely to cost.”
“Black transgender people report experiencing the highest levels of discrimination of the community based on bias with structural and individual racism. When coupled with the economic inequality the community has always faced in comparison to their cisgendered counterparts, it’s important as ever to assist the community in getting the resources they need,” said Marcel Williams, Health Access Specialist Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. “In partnership with FOLX Health, we continue to collectively confront the inequities faced in the Black transgender human experience, while helping break down the barriers surrounding necessary gender-affirming medication, supplies, and support for the community.”
Grant applications through the FOLX HRT Care Fund will be available to anyone 18 and older living in 29 states and D.C., with expansion to additional states on the horizon, and will cover 12 months of HRT medication, lab monitoring and clinical care. Further details on grant application dates will be released soon.
FOLX Health offers end-to-end virtual primary care, gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy, PrEP, care navigation, content and community through a diverse network of queer and trans specialized providers. To learn more about FOLX Health, visit www.folxhealth.com.
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ABOUT FOLX HEALTH
Launched in December 2020, FOLX Health is an LGBTQIA+ healthcare service provider built to serve the community’s specific needs. The company delivers a new standard of healthcare that’s built to serve LGBTQIA+ people, rather than treat them as problems to be solved. FOLX Health provides end-to-end virtual primary care, HRT, PrEP, care navigation, content and community through a diverse network of queer and trans specialized providers. In January 2021, FOLX Health established the FOLX HRT Care Fund which redistributes financial resources from allies inside and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community to support trans, nonbinary, and intersex folks to access hormone replacement therapy care through FOLX.
ABOUT BLACK TRANS ADVOCACY COALITION
The National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) is the only social justice organization led by Black trans people to collectively address the inequities faced in the Black transgender human experience. BTAC works to end poverty and discrimination faced in health, employment, housing, and education. For more information, visit www.blacktrans.org
PRESS CONTACT:
Bruno Solari
FOLX Health
