DAY 01: Snapshot of Mental Health

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One of the greatest stressors for trans people who are medically transitioning has been the declining availability of gender-affirming care and treatment. Our partners reported that gender affirming surgeries have been postponed, or cancelled, and affected trans people were not provided with information from health care providers as to when gender-affirming surgeries would resume. Disrupted supply chains from India reduced the availability of hormones, particularly testosterone, to support gender-affirming hormone therapy regimes for trans people. The disruption in gender-affirming care for trans people has exacerbated mental health including increasing anxiety and depression.

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DAY 02: Organisational Profile – Unity 4 Change

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Over the next few weeks, APTN will be highlighting some of our COVID-19 Community Support Fund partners who have stepped up to provide vital support to the community during the pandemic. 

Our next partner is an emerging LBT group in Nepal, Unity 4 Change. Despite being their first-ever project, U4C was able to provide financial aid and food to over 50 LBT community members AND developed mental well-being programmes for LBT people. Knowing how many people would be affected mentally by the lockdown, they hosted virtual events including Group Psychosocial Counselling to support 64 LBT people to cope with their psychosocial health.

Click the link in our bio to read more about how U4C is navigating the challenges of the COVID pandemic to continue the important work they do.

Support and follow U4C here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lgbtiqgroup

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https://weareaptn.org/2021/03/23/covid-19-trans-resilience-campaign-week-3-mental-health-organisational-profile-unity-4-change/

DAY 03: Story from the Streets –  Samababohona

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The #transcommunity has always been and will continue to be resilient. Throughout the next few weeks, APTN will be sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the #COVID19 pandemic. 

Our next story is from Diban, a young #transman from Kolkata, #India. Prior to the #pandemic, Diban had begun building a life for himself and his partner after leaving his abusive family’s home. However, COVID has affected their financial stability and Diban’s #mentalhealth. Since Diban does not have his gender changed on government identity documents, he was unable to receive the government’s food rations. Thankfully, Samabhabona was able to provide food rations to reduce the economic pressures on Diban. 

To hear more of Diban’s story, click the link in our bio.

Support and Follow Samabhabona here:  https://www.facebook.com/samabhabona/

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https://weareaptn.org/2021/03/24/covid-19-trans-resilience-campaign-week-3-mental-health-stories-from-the-streets-samabobahna/

DAY 03: Story from the Streets –  Lakanbini

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The #trans community has always been and will continue to be resilient. Throughout the next few weeks, APTN will be sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the #COVID19 #pandemic. 

There are so many moving stories from our community; we are featuring another story this week, this time from Lakanbini in the #Philippines. Binibining Ruffa Torregoza is a  34 years old Filipina #transgender woman activist who #volunteers for Gayon Inc., a region-wide (Bicol) NGO working on #LGBTI rights. During the pandemic, she volunteered for the relief operations while experiencing food insecurity, financial hardship, and traumatic mental health issues herself. Despite this, Binibining is trying to remain positive for her #community and her own future.

To hear more of Binibining’s story, click the link in our bio. 
Support and Follow Lakanbini here: https://www.facebook.com/lakanbiniadvocatespilipinas

Website Content

https://weareaptn.org/2021/03/24/covid-19-trans-resilience-campaign-week-3-mental-health-stories-from-the-streets-lakanbini/

The trans community has always been and will continue to be resilient. Throughout the COVID-19 Trans Resilience Campaign, APTN will be sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our second story comes from The Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, Thailand  in Thailand.

The Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights, Thailand

My name is Kaohom. I am a Thai transgender woman from Nonthaburi. I am  27 years old. I live in Nonthaburi. Before the COVID-19 situation I worked as a telephone saleswoman. I was also a part time makeup artist and did banana leaf decorations (bouquet of banana leaf). I used to get an income on average of THB 30,000 bath (USD 966) per month. I am the main provider of household and support 3 people in my family before COVID-19 situation. The house I live in is owned by my parents. My parents are unemployed and they have chronic disease (Diabetes and Hypertension) and my sister is a student.

During COVID 19 I was laid off because I had been working for less than 6 months which is a condition of the company. I didn’t receive compensation. I can’t work part-time as nobody is organising weddings or graduation or other events. My savings are used up. Everyone in my family is trying to make money, for example my parents and my sister cook thai food and thai desserts to sell online. 

I started taking hormones by myself when I was 17, because of a Thai influencer. During COVID, I did not have access to the hormones, but I got a survival bag from Thai TGA, it is different from other kinds of survival bags as it contained hormones so I could continue to transition. It kept me from feeling down. When I received my survival bag, I felt with the heart. Hormone is my identity.

During COVID-19, I aIso received an allowance from government 5,000 bath/month for 3 months. But I worry about COVID-19 situation and my family’s health. I worry about income and how I’ll get a new job. Will I be discriminated against? I am worried about getting my hormones. I hope that I can take continuously take hormones until I can transform from male to female, have breast surgery and sex reassignment surgery. If that day came, I would be very happy, and I will have confidence in myself.

Support and follow Thai TGA’s here: http://thaitga.org/2020/th/home/

DAY 01: Snapshot of GAC During COVID-19 Limits Access to HIV Care Snapshot

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One of the greatest stressors for trans people who are medically transitioning has been the declining availability of gender-affirming care and treatment. Our partners reported that gender affirming surgeries have been postponed, or cancelled, and affected trans people were not provided with information from health care providers as to when gender-affirming surgeries would resume. Disrupted supply chains from India reduced the availability of hormones, particularly testosterone, to support gender-affirming hormone therapy regimes for trans people. The disruption in gender-affirming care for trans people has exacerbated mental health including increasing anxiety and depression.

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DAY 02: Organisational Profile – Hope

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Over the next four weeks, APTN will be highlighting some of our COVID-19 Community Support Fund partners who have stepped up to provide vital support to the community during the pandemic. 

Our partner HOPE in Pakistan was able to provide financial support to address emergency needs of the community including rent, food, PPE, and psychological support. In addition, they received many requests for support in accessing hormones during the pandemic, and were able to support both trans men and trans women to receive four months of hormone therapy. Though they received three emergency grants, the demand from the community is so large that they are still unable to support all those in need. 

Click the link in our bio to read more about how HOPE is navigating the challenges of the COVID pandemic to continue the important work they do.

Support and follow HOPE’s work here: @hopecommunitypk on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

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DAY 03: Stories from the Streets – Thai TGA

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The trans community has always been and will continue to be resilient. Throughout the next few weeks, APTN will be sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Our second story is from Kaohom, a 27 year old Thai transgender woman. As the main provider for her family, she worries about discrimination affecting her ability to find a new job after being laid off. Without an income, she was unable to access hormones, but thanks to Thai TGA she received a COVID survival bag that included hormones, alleviating that worry.

To hear more of Kaohom’s story, click the link in our bio. 

Support and follow Thai TGA’s here: http://thaitga.org/2020/th/home/

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COVID-19 Trans Resilience Campaign: Week 2 – GAC – Stories from the Streets – Kaohom

The trans community has always been and will continue to be resilient. Throughout the COVID-19 Trans Resilience Campaign, APTN will be sharing the stories of Hope, Pain, and Survival of trans communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our first story comes from  Yayasan Srikandi Sejati Foundation in Indonesia

Yayasan Srikandi Sejati Foundation, Indonesia 

Name of Storyteller: Icha

My name is Icha and I’m 28 years old and live in West Jakarta, Indonesia. I’m transwoman and stay with other trans women in a rented room in a slum area. I was diagnosed with HIV when I was 27. My education is not enough to get a formal job so I work as a beggar, singing and playing music on the street. 

Since March 2020, I did not have any work. Local Government in Jakarta published policies about social distancing on a large scale in the Province. The impact of this policy is that all informal workers do not have the opportunity to work on the street. I lost my job and livelihood that could support my basic needs every day.

There have been some cases of violence that have occurred to other transwomen. My senior, her name is Mira, she was a victim of social violence in North Jakarta.  I am afraid that I will not have money to support my life in the next three months. My supply of basic food is becoming limited so I have to work. I am worried that I have no income, no savings, I am afraid of being infected with COVID 19 and afraid that I will experience violence if I work on the street. 

The identity card for trans women is most important. We are a group that the family rejects and we were removed from the family card which is the basis for the national identity card and to get service. Three years ago, I was sick, so the outreach worker brought me to the health service for HIV testing and ARV treatment. I found out I was HIV positive. As HIV positive, YSS helped me to get support from the Pukesmas [Government Hospital] even though I don’t have an identity card.  But after that I was ashamed to meet the outreach worker and avoided YSS because my status was positive even though they accepted me. But when COVID happened, the SSF staff came to me and supported me again. 

As part of our COVID-19 Trans Resilience Campaign, APTN will be highlighting some of our COVID-19 Community Support Fund partners who have stepped up to provide vital support to the community during the pandemic. Read below about our first organisation and how they are navigating the challenges of the COVID pandemic to continue the important work they do.

Name of Organisation:

Basera Samajik Sansthan

Where we work:

Noida, India

Who we support:

Transgender (trans men and trans women) and PLHIV

What We Do.

Our major activities include sexual health, empowerment, documenting and mitigating crisis and advocacy for policy reforms. We provide basic support, advocacy, counselling, linkages to government health services such as legal support, HIV treatment, education and skill development programs

Why We Do It 

The transgender community in our country needs to be educated and empowered so that they can fight for their rights and take what’s rightfully theirs as any other citizens including to have a stable job & earnings to live a good & healthy life.

The three most pressing issues facing trans people during COVID-19 in our community…

1. Not able to get proper testing
2. Lack of knowledge about covid-19 and how to be safe in this situation 
3. No food and money to buy medicines as all their income generating activities such as sex work, begging and performing has been shut down because of covid-19.

What we did with our grant from the Community Support Fund

We utilised these funds to provide necessary help and support needed by the community, such as organising programs to create awareness, providing medical services to the transgender community including COVID testing, HIV/STI testing and linkages and treatment for PLHIV client. We also supported some people to get employment, legal support and nutrition and food.

Some of our activities supported by the grant included educating 790 transgender people and Hijras on COVID 19 related issues. We supported 196 COVID tests in the trans community of which 27 Trans women and Hijra were found reactive. All 27 reactive COVID cases were admitted to State based quarantine centres as required by law. We at Basera ensured that these people were provided nutritional support and their families were also supported. 

During this time of COVID, the government facilities reduced their HIV testing and treatment services for all affected people. Basera continued our programmes to provide HIV testing to our community. During testing we supported 2 newly positive clients to link to ARV centres and initiate treatment. Additionally government ART centres reduced the monthly dispensing of treatment from 30 days to 15 days. With our grant we were able to advocate for these centres to continue to provide 30 days dispensing of ARV treatment to affected trans people in the community. Through this advocacy, we were able to facilitate access to HIV treatment for 65 Trans and Hijra women. 

Photo Description: Trans Community line up to receive food rations

What were some of our challenges?

There were obstacles because of the lockdown it was difficult to reach to everyone. Some harassment was also faced from the public, who think we are the source of this COVID-19, in particular when we would go to slum areas to help the transgender community. The biggest hurdle we face is for our identity, mostly hospitals and health care centres require citizenship identity documents in order to provide testing for COVID-19. Most trans women and hijra are assigned male on their ID cards but because we present as women, they do not allow us to get testing. 

What we are hopeful for…

During this time, we have come to meet more and more people from our community, people started recognising our NGO and this helps build up a lot of confidence and hope amongst our community for a better tomorrow.

Support and follow us here

Website: http://www.baserasamajiksansthan.org/ 

Instagram: basera_tg 

Twitter: SamajikBasera

DAY 01: COVID-19 Limits Access to HIV Care Snapshot

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Trans people are 49 times more likely to acquire HIV than the general adult population. Increased engagement in high risk informal work sectors such as sex work due to widespread employment discrimination, increases transgender people’s vulnerability to HIV.  Due to the high rates of HIV and other underlying chronic health conditions in our community, trans people are vulnerable to exposure and risk of COVID-19 infection. 

Yet, there has been fake news spread that PLHIV cannot receive a COVID vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective for PLHIV. As an immuno-compromised community, it is important that PLHIV be prioritized in receiving the vaccine, while continuing to take ARVs and COVID preventative measures. 

Organisations Involved:
Jaringan Gaya Warna Lentera Indonesia (Indonesia)
IT’S T TIME (Vietnam)

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DAY 01 – March 6: Summary/Introduction Post

As countries around the globe reach the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic, APTN has been looking back over the last year of hope, pain, and survival from the transgender community.  Over the next five weeks, we will present our findings from our and our partner’s work which demonstrate an urgent need to guarantee the inclusion of  transgender and gender non conforming people in efforts to fight COVID-19 and its effects. This COVID-19 campaign will feature snapshots and findings from APTN’s “Trans Resilience Report”, profile our partner organisations and the vital work they have been doing to combat COVID-19’s effects in trans communities, share the stories of the trans individual’s lived experiences throughout the pandemic, and feature articles and insights from experts in various fields from mental health to human rights. 

Visit our website via the link in our bio for more information on the campaign.

DAY 2 – Findings at Glance

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As part of our Community Support Fund, our partners implemented community-led monitoring to ensure we had accurate data to increase evidence and understanding of the context for trans communities to develop an effective and relevant response and advocate for greater action.

Our data highlights how financial vulnerabilities and wealth inequalities impact their ability to keep themselves protected from COVID-19, with many unable to afford to panic buy and stock up on emergency supplies. The lack of legal gender recognition laws across the region increased exclusion and rejection of our community from essential government social protection schemes aimed to alleviate hardship. Additionally, trans people are experiencing increased difficulties getting access to hormones and gender-affirmative health care. The trauma experienced from the physical side effects of stopping their medical transition is having an overwhelmingly negative effect on their mental health.

Link: https://weareaptn.org/2021/03/05/covid19-trans-resilience-findings-at-a-glance/

Through the COVID-19 Community Support Fund, APTN was able to pivot existing funds and generate new funding to support grants, totaling USD $110,109. In total, 22 organisations and groups and 18 individual country focal points received funds enabling them to support 2313 individuals across Asia and the Pacific region to access essential supplies including food and PPE, financial assistance and social and mental health relief support.

We were highly cognisant of the additional strain that reporting during an emergency response can create for our organisations, especially nascent, under resourced, and loosely organised groups. However, we have learnt over decades of establishing and sustaining our movement that high quality, accurate data which speaks to and highlights the needs and experiences of our community is a critical step for inclusion and increasing resources. More importantly, we know documentation is essential in ensuring lessons are learnt and built upon by future generations.

In response to this and to alleviate additional burdens we engaged paid focal points in each country to coordinate reporting across partner organisations, monitor and locally distribute strategic COVID-19 related information in local languages, and document policy and law changes affecting trans people during this time. We used a mix of monitoring and reporting methods to ensure we had accurate data to increase our understanding of the context for trans communities to develop an effective and relevant response.

Our data highlights how financial vulnerabilities and wealth inequalities impact their ability to keep themselves protected from COVID-19, with many unable to afford to panic buy and stock up on emergency supplies. The lack of legal gender recognition laws across the region increased exclusion and rejection of our community from essential government social protection schemes aimed to alleviate hardship. Additionally, trans people are experiencing increased difficulties getting access to hormones and gender-affirmative health care. The trauma experienced from the physical side effects of stopping their medical transition is having an overwhelmingly negative effect on their mental health.

Read more in our full Covid19 Trans Resilience Report and follow our IG/Facebook to learn more about our findings on COVID-19’s impact on Trans and Gender Diverse Communities.

This COVID-19 Trans Resilience Social Media Tool Kit contains graphics and recommended copy for posting during COVID-19 Social Media Campaign, the second phase of our rollout plan for the Trans Resilience Report as part of the UNAIDS COVID-19 Communications Grant.

Date	Content Packages
March 6/7	Week 0: COVID -19 Experience of Trans People Summary/Introduction
March 8-12	Week 1: Health: HIV Care
March 15-19	Week 2: Health: Gender Affirming Care
March 22-26	Week 3: Health: Mental Health
March 29	Bonus Post In Line w/ TDOV (Coming Soon)
April 5-9	Week 4: Financial Security + Social Protections (Coming Soon)
April 12-16	Week 5: Human Rights Violations (Coming Soon)
+1 (April 17)	Thank you and final post (Coming Soon)

Relevant Hashtags: #weareAPTN #StandingUpForTransRights #Covid19TransResilience

Background

Over the last year APTN has been working alongside our country partners and trans focal points in the region to closely monitor the evolving situation presented by COVID-19. As part of our programming we used a mix of monitoring and reporting methods to ensure we had accurate data to increase evidence and understanding of the context for trans communities to develop an effective and relevant response and advocate for greater action. With the generosity and the flexibility of our current and new donors, we were able to pivot and redirect our existing and new funding to integrate COVID-19 responsive mechanisms into our Standing Up for Trans Rights Strategic Plan 2018-2020 and  establish a COVID-19 Community Support Fund. 

Our data highlights how financial vulnerabilities and wealth inequalities impact their ability to keep themselves protected from COVID-19, with many unable to afford to panic buy and stock up on emergency supplies. The lack of legal gender recognition laws across the region increased exclusion and rejection of our community from essential government social protection schemes aimed to alleviate hardship. Additionally, trans people are experiencing increased difficulties getting access to hormones and gender-affirmative health care. The trauma experienced from the physical side effects of stopping their medical transition is having an overwhelmingly negative effect on their mental health.

Over the next five weeks, we will present our findings from our and our partner’s work which demonstrate an urgent need to guarantee the inclusion of  transgender and gender non conforming people in efforts to fight COVID-19 and its effects. This COVID-19 campaign will feature snapshots and findings from APTN’s “Trans Resilience Report”, profile our partner organisations and the vital work they have been doing to combat COVID-19’s effects in trans communities, share the stories of the trans individual’s lived experiences throughout the pandemic, and feature articles and insights from experts in various fields from mental health to human rights.

Week 0: COVID -19 Experience of Trans People Summary/Introduction

As countries around the globe reach the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic, APTN has been looking back over the last year of hope, pain, and survival from the transgender community.  Over the next five weeks, we will present our findings from our and our partner’s work which demonstrate an urgent need to guarantee the inclusion of  transgender and gender non conforming people in efforts to fight COVID-19 and its effects.

Week 1: Health – HIV Care

Due to the high rates of HIV and other underlying chronic health conditions in our community, trans people are vulnerable to exposure and risk of COVID-19 infection. Yet, COVID has made it more difficult to access HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. Find out more about COVID-19’s effects on transgender people’s access to HIV care, and how organisations are working to improve access despite COVID-19 barriers.

Week 2: Health – Gender Affirming Care

One of the greatest stressors for trans people  during COVID-19 has been the declining availability of gender-affirming care and treatment. Doctors are focused on fighting COVID, hormone supplies have been disrupted, and surgeries have been cancelled or postponed. This disruption in gender-affirming care for trans people has exacerbated mental health including increasing anxiety and depression. Read more about the repercussions of COVID-19 on access to gender affirming care, and how organisations are working to provide this necessary treatment to communities.

Week 3: Health – Mental Health

Across the region, almost universally our partners reported the increasing impacts on the community’s mental health. Isolation from their friends and peers has increased feelings of loneliness, stress and depression. Coupled with fear of exposure to COVID-19, reduced or loss of income and reduced access to gender-affirming care, our partners reported that this has led to an increase in the number of trans people committing suicide. With a lack of trans competent mental health care, our partners are having to step up to provide mental health care to their communities themselves – read more about these organisations and the vital work they are doing to support their communities.

Week 4: Financial Security + Social Protections

Historical systemic and systematic discrimination against trans people stemming directly from harmful laws criminalising their identities and sexual behaviours and a lack of legal gender recognition across Asia and the Pacific region has further impacted trans people’s access to financial and health security throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out how our partner’s are stepping up to fulfill their communities growing needs during the pandemic.

Week 5: Human Rights

Governments have been using the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to further stifle and limit the rights of transgender people. Startling reports were sent in by our partners sharing stories of increased human rights violations and gender-based violence – read those stories here and learn how organisations are still advocating for their rights despite COVID-19 restrictions.

Key Links & Contact Information

Asia Pacific Transgender Network

Instagram: @weareaptn
Twitter: @weareaptn
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WeAreAPTN
Website: www.weareaptn.org