Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition

Who We Are

We are trans and allied community organizers and health care providers working to improve the health care experiences of transgender, transsexual, intersex, genderqueer, and other gender non-conforming people living in Minnesota.  

Mission

The Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition is committed to improving health care access and the quality of health care received by trans and gender nonconforming people through education, resources, direct services, and advocacy.  

Core Values

•Equal access •Social justice •Quality health care for transgender communities and individuals

We are working for racial, social, and economic justice, and recognize that we are part of a multi-issue movement that includes gender liberation, as well as differences around race, class, age, sexual orientation, ability, immigrant status, and much more.

Your Dollars At Work

We rely on contributions from our friends, family, providers, allies, and fellow community members to make our work possible. Your donations help us:

• Produce our annual Trans Health and Wellness Conference
• Educate trans folks on safer hormone injection and assist with injections
• Provide safe syringe exchange
• Conduct health assessments and case management
• Provide education and resources through our website
• Provide referral through our Trans Friendly Provider Directory
• Hold free community health forums
• Train health professionals and students on how to provide equitable, trans-competent care
• Operate and maintain the Gender Gear program, which provides clothing and supplies to community members
• Operate and maintain our queer community food shelf at the Exchange
• 
  

MTHC was formed by a small group of trans and allied community activists seeking to improve health care for ourselves and our communities. We provided online resources and referral, and implemented trainings for health professionals and students. As we expanded we provided free health and wellness events. We opened our office and expanded in 2010 in order to provide direct services to our communities, including Hep C testing and education, syringe exchange, HIV testing, and case management referral, and to offer support groups.

January of 2011, we expanded our office and programs space, and host groups, meetings, volunteer projects, and more. We have shared our space, "The Exchange", with community groups like: Reclaim, Transforming Families, Q20, SWOP, The Avengers, and RARE Productions (rareproductionsmpls.com. The Exchange is used for office and meeting space and RARE Productions houses an art gallery for LGBTQ Artists of Color and allies.

In 2013, we expanded our services to include a food shelf for the community, and have several active support groups.  Our support groups meet weekly; our Transmasculine group (mthctransguys.net) meets every Tuesday at 7:00, and our Trans* Support Group meets every Wednesday at 6:00, youth groups Lile Rainbow, Gender Jam, and GR8 meet on Sunday 

Our Shot Clinic, which trains people to administer hormones, assists clients with their own hormone shots, and houses our syringe exchange program, is also going strong, and now operates 3 days a week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

What a community member has to say about MTHC (exerpts):

“I hate to think how hard my life would be without this sanctuary. “

 A year ago I was pretty much on the brink of disaster when I decided at last to address my 59 year problem of being a trans person.  My therapist said I needed to get into a group setting so I could meet other trans people and get to understand the trans experience from points of view other than my own.  My first encounter with the MTHC Wednesday night support group was like nothing I ever imagined.  They were teaching the basics of self defense since trans people become so vulnerable as they start living as their true selves.  I learned more about how to protect myself in that session than I ever did as a male. Valuable lessons from day one. 

The MTHC support group is a haven that will leave an indelible mark on anyone who comes. That there is a space, a time, and open accessibility to anyone who needs it has unquestionably helped to pull many of us (me included)  back from "the brink" of some kind and allowed us to move forward safely in this transition to who we really are. I hate to think how hard my life would be without this sanctuary. 

Sincerely,

z.g.