Indianapolis trans, nonbinary advocates hold health event
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Transgender and nonbinary supporters wrapped up Trans Week of Awareness with a round of events focused on vaccinations, testing and housing.
They will end the week with Transgender Remembrance Day to recognize the nearly 50 trans people killed in the United State this year.
It’s easy to feel joy and love when you’re with people who understand what it like to live your life. When you’re trans, nonbinary that often means a life that’s not always welcomed by the masses.
“I’m not getting the lugs bit off of me anymore. I’m accepted. Because I accept myself and I know myself. And when you know you who can go against that,” Joseph Shears said.
Shears said it’s been a fight their whole life and being around like minded people eases the load. “It frees you from all the chains that you thought were there the invisible, like shackles of defeat.”
Shears is one of many people to participate in a community vaccine and testing event at Trans Solutions Resource and Research Center. Other advocacy organizations merged to pull it together.
For people who are trans, and nonbinary testing and vaccine access can be challenging.
“You also have to know the transgender individuals come with multiple identities. The ID card doesn’t always match the identity of how they show up,” said Trans Solutions founder Marissa Miller.
Trans Solutions is on the building but the founder said it doesn’t belong to her. This is a place for the people. And she said it’s that idea of serving people that is bringing together advocacy groups around the city to come together to begin renovations on transitional housing.
“Housing is huge huge huge because you have individuals who do a lot of couch surfing they stay here there. We have individuals who are homeless,” said Trans Solutions Board member Patrick Bouquett.
This home still needs a lot of work. but once it’s done … all of the advocacy agencies will be able to place people here. Typically it can be a rush job when it comes to housing … but successful rehousing can take 90 days or more.