Today is Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to center and celebrate Maine’s vibrant transgender community. And today, Maine Family Planning renews our firm, lasting commitment to provide compassionate, confidential health services, regardless of gender identity or expression. As specialists in sexual and reproductive health, we listen and provide support without judgment.
That’s an important commitment, because it’s hard to turn on the news or open the paper without seeing stories about trans rights and health care issues these days. Lawmakers across the country have introduced an unprecedented number of bills targeting LGBTQ+ people, including hundreds targeting the rights of trans people. Many of those bills are attacking gender-affirming care. Here in Maine, advocates are continuing to fight a series of anti-trans bills and policies introduced in the Statehouse and in school districts.
At each of our clinics across the state, various types of gender-affirming care are available, including hormonal transition therapy and monitoring, onsite-injection training, and preventative care. Our Open Door program is staffed by providers who are fluent in current care standards, as well as a variety of sexual and health care needs beyond hormone therapy, like birth control, wellness visits, and safer sex supplies. We also offer a range of other services to people of any gender––all of it on a sliding scale fee, with options for people with or without insurance.
During the pandemic, we expanded our Open Door programming to include secure, confidential Virtual Visits with MFP staff who can discuss medical concerns, treatment options, medications, and so much more.
But care services are only a small aspect of our work. We also have a library of simple, helpful resources and thorough information on subjects ranging from self-administered treatment to masculinizing and feminizing therapies. We’ve even got legal assistance guides to walk New Englanders through the process of changing their gender markers.
And lastly, we couldn’t do our work without partners like MaineTransNet, OUT Maine, Equality Maine, and many more, who continue to advocate tirelessly for issues on behalf of gender diverse people in the state. And as we move forward, we support efforts to expand access to gender-affirming health care in Maine and beyond.
It’s a turbulent time, but together we’re working hard to maintain our role as a steady oasis of support for Trans Mainers.
