Transgender District launches emergency fund amid cuts
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Photo: Courtesy of the Transgender District
San Francisco's historic Transgender District is fighting for its place in the city with a new fund aimed at countering cuts that have forced it to scale back services.
Why it matters: The district was founded in 2017 — the first of its kind in the world — and works to support trans and nonbinary people, a mission its leaders say has gained renewed urgency amid an influx of LGBTQ+ people from red states.
State of play: The district had some grants rescinded earlier this year while philanthropic support dropped locally and nationwide, according to co-executive director Breonna McCree.
- "We need support in real time to continue the vital work that we were doing," McCree told Axios.
The latest: The Transgender District is launching a multi-year emergency fund in a bid to secure long-term survival.
- The Riot Fund, unveiled ahead of the district's annual Riot Party, aims to raise $100,000 over the next three years to help buffer budget shortfalls.
- At the Riot Party, which honors the legacy of one of the first documented LGBTQ+ uprisings in U.S. history, attendees will be asked to contribute what they can.
- It's part of a broader effort to diversify the district's funding sources, co-executive director Carlo Gómez Arteaga told Axios.
Friction point: Most of the district's funding thus far has relied on government sources — primarily at the local level.
- Mayor Daniel Lurie's budget restructuring, however, led to cuts that forced the district to scale back services.
Zoom in: The district has had to pause its flagship entrepreneurship accelerator and was unable to renew its rent stabilization program, which aims to address the economic disparities that contribute to higher risks of housing insecurity for trans and nonbinary people.
- Other impacted programs include its social justice fellowship and wellness and safety initiatives like Name & Gender Marker Change Clinics, which help people update legal documents to reflect the name and gender aligned with their identity.
What they're saying: "Our community is very nuanced, and we need different pathways for entry to support," Gómez Arteaga said. "The more pathways to entry to support, the greater likelihood that person will get the support systems that they need."
- Young trans children should grow up knowing "they can be more than just activists, that they can follow their dreams and not have to fight for their lives all the time," he added.
Between the lines: With escalating anti-trans legislation across the U.S., San Francisco has seen a "great migration" of trans and nonbinary people fleeing red states, McCree noted.
- Many are often unable to contend with the Bay Area's high costs of living right off the bat.
- That's increased the urgency of bolstering the social services infrastructure, local LGBTQ+ advocates have told Axios.
What's next: The Riot Party takes place 4–9pm Saturday at 981 Mission St.
- It's co-produced with the all-Black drag show Reparations and will feature a lineup of performers that includes Nicki Jizz, Naomi Smalls, Redbone and more.
