Program for transgender Latinas thrives despite cutbacks in city funding

Despite a setback in city funding for its HIV prevention services, a program for the transgender Latina community continues to thrive, thanks to the support, participation, and donations from the community.

The El/La Program Para Translatinas, which started in 2006, lost its prevention contract in late September in a decision made by the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The decision also forced the program to lay off its staff.

“The community knows of our situation and is responding well,” said Alexandra Byerly, El/La’s program coordinator. As the fight for funding continues, the program has refocused its work on social justice and rights for the transLatina community, as well as continue to offer services and support to this group of people who is often overlooked by the rest of society.

El/La’s office at 2940 16th Street, Suite 319 is open from 5 to 9 p.m. from Tuesdays to Saturdays. In addition to providing HIV risk reduction counseling, the program offers personal counseling, support and referrals for immigration, legal name changes, and permanent housing, Counselors deal with issues such as domestic violence, hate crimes, and transphobia. In addition, the program gives the opportunity for other transLatinas to interact by offering group activities such as support groups, workshops, and the Cinema Club, which focuses on educational films regarding HIV prevention.

Although El/La’s focus is on the transLatina community, Byerly said El/La’s office won’t deny access to anyone.
Some of the program’s services and events are made possible with the help of volunteers, like Jasmine Medrano, who has come into the office regularly since April. She also helps promote the El/La program through word of mouth.

“Some of the girls we find on the street don’t know where to go, and they’re trying to change, so we give them information and tell them that we have lots of services for transLatinas,” said Medrano.

Medrano also turns to El/La for her own needs, with successful results.

“They helped get my asylum approved, changed my name, helped me find a place to live, and gave me a doctor who can give me hormones,” she said. She also enjoys the time spent with people she has met through the program as well as the comfortable environment.

“It’s like another family, my second home,” said Medrano.

Byerly asks, “Imagine if we had our doors closed - where would these people be?”

Tax-deductible donations to El/La Para Translatinas can be made through the program’s new fiscal agent, the Native American AIDS Project (NAAP). Checks should be made payable to the Native American AIDS Project with “El/La” in the memo field and sent to 1540 Market Street, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102.

(Produced in collaboration with El Tecolote.)