The White House is reaching out to the transgender community for a list of things that its members want as they follow their lifestyle choices.
The initiative was launched with the help of White House Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil, who expressed concern that there is very little data of what the transgender community needs from the government.
“In the transgender space, there exists no data,” Patil told Fortune Magazine. “There’s none.”
Patil helped launched the initiative in order to quantify the desires from the transgender community so that the federal government could reach out with assistance.
“Jobs, healthcare, housing, a safe place to pee. It’s your time to be heard. Share your #transneeds,” reads a message on the Twitter account calling for everyone to weigh in.
Jobs, healthcare, housing, a safe place to pee. It’s your time to be heard. Share your #transneeds pic.twitter.com/LimPVJlzjs
— #transneeds (@transneeds) September 30, 2015
Another message from the account reads:
Tell us what the federal government can do for you. We’re collecting data and providing recommendations #transneeds https://t.co/snhkByX9fM — #transneeds (@transneeds) September 30, 2015
Patil praised the launch of the movement on Twitter earlier this morning:
Very excited to see the transgender community lead by creating the #transneeds initiative. Send in your transgender needs w/ that #.
— DJ Patil (@DJ44) September 30, 2015
The account also posted a photo of the LGTBQ activists on Twitter at the White House holding a sign promoting their hashtag.
Incredibly proud of our small, all volunteer staff – help us spread the word. Tweet/share @transneeds #transneeds pic.twitter.com/2Ly9epPv5g — #transneeds (@transneeds) September 30, 2015
According to the Twitter account, the #transneeds project is the result of the White House LGBTQ Tech Summit which was held in order to understand the needs of the transgender community.
“Amongst and in our community, the trans community faces some of the greatest challenges for inclusion and economic inclusion,” U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith said during the event which took place in August.
Ina Fried, a senior editor for Re/code, has been promoting the initiative on her Twitter account:
Glad to be a part of this effort. Share your #transneeds and be heard! https://t.co/hESir0AEY9
— Ina Fried (@inafried) September 30, 2015
The campaign is still new, but here is the short list of needs currently shared under the hashtag:
#TransNeeds gender neutral bathrooms! Also I think trans boys n girls deserve representation that ISNT old money. @dosomething
— Caitlyn Sibole (@Caitlyn_Sibole) September 30, 2015
What do we need to support the trans community? For one, comprehensive, non-judgmental, free medical and mental health care #TransNeeds
— Mount Sinai AHC (@AdHealthCenter) September 30, 2015
#transneeds Laws to protect and support trans youth in hostile homes, including access to puberty-blockers and hormones
— Emily Prince (@emily_esque) September 30, 2015
#transneeds A 50-state push to simplify the process of changing name and gender marker, removing unnecessary barriers like high filing fees
— Emily Prince (@emily_esque) September 30, 2015
#transneeds An HHS rule that explicitly covers GRS and other transgender-specific health care. Right now the rule has giant loopholes.
— Emily Prince (@emily_esque) September 30, 2015
#transneeds More doctors to prescribe HRT; more surgeons capable of performing GRS.
— Emily Prince (@emily_esque) September 30, 2015
#transneeds An HHS rule that explicitly covers GRS and other transgender-specific health care. Right now the rule has giant loopholes. — Emily Prince (@emily_esque) September 30, 2015
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