In Quezon City, the local government unit (LGU) has announced that it will start offering transition healthcare services for the transgender community.
In a Twitter/X post, Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte said that the newly-launched “Trans* Health QC” program showcases that the city is an ally of the LGBTQIA community.
QC supports Trans* Health advocacy!
Nilagdaan ni Mayor Joy Belmonte at nina Anastacio Marasigan, Jr. ng TLF Share, Magdalena Robinson ng Trans* Health Philippines, Teresita Bagasao ng EpiC Philippines, at City Health Department OIC Dr. Ramona Abarquez pic.twitter.com/QweVcHo1Pq
— Quezon City Government (@QCGov) June 11, 2024
“Trans community, QC is your ally! Kaya naman, buong suporta si Mayor Joy Belmonte sa paglulunsad ng Trans* Health QC kung saan mas mailalapit sa mga trans brother and sister natin ang access to health services tulad ng free hormone counseling, assessment, at management,” Belmonte stated.
As stated – and to stress – Trans* Health QC will offer free hormone counseling, assessment and management to help transgender people in their transitioning. Transgender women are usually prescribed estrogen and anti-androgen, while transgender men are given testosterone therapy.
For transgender people, transitioning is the period when a person starts living according to their gender identity, and not the gender assigned to them at birth. Not all transgender people transition, obviously; and those who do, the transition happens in different ways – e.g. socially (like changing the name and gender pronouns used) and medically (like using gender-affirming hormone therapy or GAHT). As such, transition is different for every transgender person.
To achieve its goal, the Quezon City government partnered with an organization focusing on men who have sex with men (MSM), TLF Share; Trans* Health Philippines; USAID; and the Philippine Professional Association for Transgender Health.
