NYLPI's Suhali Méndez supports bills for immigrant TGNCI youth access
Suhali Méndez of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest describes the UndocuCare TGNCI+ program serving transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex immigrants. She says immigrant youth face trauma, language barriers, misinformation, and fear of government institutions; supports Intro 949, Res 208, and Res 547 and will submit detailed testimony.
Hi, good afternoon.
Chair Caban, Chair Farias, and members of the committees.
My name is Suhali Mendez, and I'm the Policy and Legislative Coordinator at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, or better known as NILP.
NILPI is a civil rights organization that advances justice for people with disabilities, immigrants, communities of color, and other historically marginalized communities.
And through our UndocuCare TGNCI Plus program, we work directly with transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex immigrants,
including young people and their families, to help them access health care, housing, as well as legal services.
Thank you so much for holding this very important hearing.
NILPI is proud to support INCHO 949, RESO 208, and RESO 547, all of which are important steps toward
improving access to health care and mental health outcomes for transgender and non-binary New Yorkers.
At a time when transgender and non-binary youth face growing barriers to health care across the country, New York City has an opportunity as well as a responsibility to continue leading.
Access to gender-affirming care is not only a health care issue, it is a civil right.
rights issue.
Every young person deserves access to care that respects their identity, protects their dignity,
as well as supports their physical and mental health being.
Transgender non-binary youth experience disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicides.
These outcomes are not caused simply by a young person's gender identity.
Rather, they're often the result of discrimination, stigma, bullying, family rejection, as well as systematic barriers that make it harder to access health care and support services.
These barriers often are greater within immigrant youth, particularly those who are undocumented and seeking asylum.
Many of these individuals and families we work with has fled violence and persecution because of their gender identity.
They frequently face significant trauma while also navigating complex health care, housing, and immigration systems.
Fear of government institutions, misinformation about eligibility of services, language barriers, and experiences of discrimination can prevent people from accessing the care that they need.
That is why the legislation before the Council today is so important.
Incho 949 will require the creation of LGBTQI plus health and gender affirming care resources, including a searchable provider directory.
Too many families spend...
Time is up.
Expired.
You can finish your thought.
No, finish your thought.
You're good.
My man's just doing his job.
No problem.
Noted.
So we support Intro 949.
We also support Reso 208, which recognizes the critical role and bias that continues to play in healthcare settings.
Anti-bias trainings for medical students can provide future providers to better serve transgender, non-binary patients, immigrants, and people with disabilities and other historically marginalized communities.
And lastly, we support Razo 547, which calls for the establishment of gender-affirming care program within New York State Department of Health to help ensure continuity of care.
Consistent access to medically necessary health care is essential for many immigrants'patients.
Disruptions in housing, insurance coverage, or access to providers can make continuity to care particularly difficult.
And I will be providing more detailed testimony for record.
And I thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today.