2025-09-09 16:41

Thank you so much for your participation in advocating for Gender Affirming care in our state teaching hospital. We have officially sent the petition to UNMH VP Michael Richards, Dr. Dissanaike- the surgical specialties director and Dr. McClain, an excellent GAC provider. In this process we have discovered that there is support within UNM and the Senate for our petition, and thanks to our advocacy, are in the early stages of creating a multidisciplinary approach to a single stop model of care where all the care needs for trans and gender expansive folks can be met in one affirming place. (Super exciting!) We are awaiting UNM's response, and plan to also send it to supportive Senators in the coming weeks. We will keep you posted as things evolve.

In support of this goal of getting community input, we are organizing an event that will be a space where we can come together, vision and strategize about what elements make gender affirming care compassionate and affirming, and where we can begin to shape the affirming care network of our dreams.

The QT Heart Affirming Medicine Fair on Sat October 18th, 2025, will be an opportunity to gain feedback from the community and collaborate and co-create a supportive network of and model for compassionate affirming care. We will introduce the community to compassionate and affirming healthcare providers and healers. We will also use the tool of playback theatre for collective visioning to explore the question of what does affirming and compassionate care look like?

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, you can fill out this application: forms.gle/PqayWwKLTE4E4aXz9
by October 7th. We will officially launch the event bright invitation and donation-based ticket sales on Sept 19th, and can release it here as well.

Feel free to opt out of updates, if you prefer, we honor your autonomy.
Blessings, and deep bows of gratitude.