Iowa families of trans youth can now get help, support through new grant program

Iowa families of transgender youth are now eligible to receive financial support and resources through the Trans Youth Emergency Project, a rapid response program launched by the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) in 2023.

The project, first named the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project, initially sought to help families from southern states impacted by laws restricting them from accessing transition-related health care — laws now in effect in other states. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 538 into law last March, prohibiting Iowa doctors from prescribing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries to transgender people under 18.

That meant many families in Iowa were forced to look to other states to get the medical care they need, adding travel costs and other expenses to their list of worries.

More: Iowa's gender-affirming care ban is chasing transgender kids out of state for medical care

That's where the project comes in, leaders of CSE and One Iowa said in a recent news release.

"To the trans youth of Iowa: We believe you when you tell us who you are," said Max Mowitz, program director at One Iowa, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization that is among CSE's partners, in a statement. "We see you advocating for your right to receive life-saving, gender-affirming healthcare, and we support you. No matter what the politicians say or do, we will use every tool in our toolbox to ensure you can access the healthcare you need.”

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The program, which according to CSE is the first of its kind with a more national reach, offers the following:

• Emergency grants of $500 to help alleviate costs of medication, travel or other immediate needs for families of trans youth. The grants are renewable every six months, according to the news release.
• Connects families to out-of-state medical providers within CSE's network and find continuing care.
• Education on restrictions on transition-related health care.

In just a year, the program has expanded from 15 to 25 states and with partnered organizations, allocated more than $500,000 in direct emergency grants to 1,000 families and individuals.

For more information, visit southernequality.org .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa families of trans youth can now get help, support through new grant program