The concept is simple \u2014 gender-affirming care saves lives.<\/p>\n
Increasing access to resources that affirm people\u2019s identities \u2014 and lessen gender dysphoria \u2014 can improve a person\u2019s mental and emotional well-being, says Anne Johnson (she\/they), director of community care at the Spectrum Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just one tangible item,\u201d they say. \u201cIt\u2019s also all the other ways they can live in a true and authentic way.\u201d<\/p>\n But access to gender-affirming support is limited in the Inland Northwest. Spectrum is on a mission to provide these critical connections to hundreds of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals across the region by providing support, creating community, and improving health and wellness.<\/p>\n (LGBTQIA2S+ refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and\/or questioning, intersex, asexual and two-spirit individuals. Two-spirit is a term used within some indigenous communities to refer to a person who identifies as having both a male and a female essence or spirit.)<\/p>\n Gender dysphoria is the constant, strong feeling of identification with a different gender than one\u2019s sex assigned at birth. When those feelings persist, it can have extreme impacts on an individual\u2019s mental, emotional and physical well-being, as well as their social, professional and educational lives.<\/p>\n On the flip side, gender euphoria is the joy an individual may feel when affirmed in their gender and free to live their true identity.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of times, the narratives we see around trans identity are narratives of pain, discrimination and harm,\u201d Johnson says. \u201cThose are all very real and important, but there are moments of trans joy, too. Moments of true expression of self.\u201d<\/p>\n At 19, Gus Dinsmore (he\/they) was going through a number of big changes. They had recently moved out of their parent\u2019s house, and as a trans man, had recently legally changed their name. A month later, they underwent top surgery.<\/p>\n It was an exciting yet expensive time, and Spectrum was with Dinsmore every step of the way, helping them locate affordable housing options and covering the cost of legally changing their name. When they needed extra support for at-home medical care and rent while recovering from surgery, Spectrum stepped in.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a great reminder that there are people who are supportive and organizations out there that are always looking to help people who need it,\u201d Dinsmore says. \u201cPeople can be scared to reach out for help and support, because they\u2019re worried they won\u2019t find it.\u201d<\/p>\n If it wasn\u2019t for Spectrum\u2019s Gender Affirming Product Program (GAPP), Dinsmore adds, they probably wouldn\u2019t have been able to change their name or make their rent.<\/p>\n Dinsmore says they were lucky to grow up surrounded by affirming family and friends, but for others, that\u2019s not the case. A lack of support can be hugely detrimental.<\/p>\n According to the Trevor Project, incidents of LGBTQIA2S+ youth seriously considering and attempting suicide is significantly higher among queer youth, including:<\/p>\n Additionally, in a survey of 34,000 LGBTQIA2S+ youth, responses showed that queer youth of color were more likely to consider suicide:<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re not feeling good about who you are and affirmed in that, then you don\u2019t even want to be a person at all,\u201d Dinsmore explains. \u201cIf somebody isn\u2019t queer or trans, they\u2019re not going to understand why that\u2019s so important or what I mean when I say gender euphoria. I don\u2019t blame them for that. I don\u2019t view ignorance as inherently bad, but it\u2019s about trying to educate themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson says some people have a hard time looking outside of a transphobic lens.<\/p>\n \u201cI think when we\u2019re talking about how joy and euphoria are experienced, we\u2019re talking about the full robustness of life. To encounter that is to see the realness of a human life,\u201d they say. \u201cThose with phobia can\u2019t see the realness of another human, and to see their joy humanizes them.\u201d<\/p>\n Even in a community as small as Spokane, Dinsmore hadn\u2019t heard about Spectrum until they were referred by a peer support group for housing assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of people don\u2019t know about them,\u201d Dinsmore adds. \u201cBut I think there\u2019s a need for it \u2026 and there\u2019s probably more people out there who need their support.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson says awareness is something they\u2019re constantly working at. People often think Spectrum\u2019s services are a scam, and question why they\u2019d offer something for free.<\/p>\n But Spectrum doesn\u2019t operate by quantifying someone\u2019s level of need, they say.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could look at the poverty line or qualify with this or that,\u201d Johnson says. \u201cBut we decided, if they say they have a need, we can believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n Through GAPP, recipients can choose to receive either support and financial assistance toward a name change \u2014 currently a $287 process in Spokane County \u2014 or $250 toward gender-affirming clothing, gear and accessories.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going to be affirming to one person may be different to someone else,\u201d Johnson says.<\/p>\n For those seeking a name change, Johnson explains how long and sometimes daunting the experience can be. From paperwork to speaking in front of a courtroom of strangers, it\u2019s a lot, they say.<\/p>\n \u201cSome want us there and some don\u2019t. When we do go, we have a little meetup outside and a toast together after,\u201d Johnson says. \u201cIt\u2019s a really big deal to change your name and say \u2018This is who I am.\u2019 It\u2019s so beautiful to be there and support and be part of that joy.\u201d<\/p>\n GAPP is just one of Spectrum\u2019s many services. Driven by advocacy and education, the nonprofit also provides consulting and training to outside organizations to help them better work with the queer community.<\/p>\n Spectrum\u2019s community care branch, which includes GAPP,\u00a0 peer support and COVID care connect, helps in their mission to create a safe, intersectional and intergenerational LGBTQIA2S+ community gathering space. The organization also hosts pop-up clinics, Queer Maker\u2019s Markets, Indigenous queer events and other opportunities for people to connect and find resources.<\/p>\n For some, the services Spectrum and GAPP provide may be their only safe route to support.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of times, I\u2019ll do a [GAPP] meetup and they bring some friends with them,\u201d Johnson explains. \u201cAn hour later, the rest of those friends have applied too.\u201d<\/p>\n GAPP provided support to 117 people in their first year, 2021, and was nearing 130 for 2022. Applications are open to anyone in the Inland Northwest, including North Idaho.<\/p>\n Spectrum is a small organization, Johnson says. They face many challenges, especially as a neighbor to Idaho, where anti-trans legislation is up for discussion and access to care and resources is limited.<\/p>\n But, they say, \u201cthe joy keeps us motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n Learn more about Spectrum, how to get involved, access resources or connect with others<\/a>.<\/p>\nSupporting the journey<\/h2>\n
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A human experience<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A space for connection and security<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Resources and connection<\/h3>\n
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