The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network held a panel discussion on the current state of transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) immigration on Monday.
The virtual event brought together community leaders to discuss the unique barriers TGI immigrants face as political debates over immigration and transgender rights continue to intensify.
The panel was moderated by Mito Aviles, program associate for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, and Sol Lagos, a program intern for Big Tobacco LA.
Panelists began by highlighting growing concerns over the injustices faced by TGI immigrants. Participants discussed immigration status, healthcare access, and economic stability, noting that marginalized communities often experience disproportionate impacts from policy changes.
Ana Alvarez, campaign organizer for Health Access, said, “I feel like injustice in health helps frame the attacks on TGI immigrants as a public health crisis because there are folks in our society, like TGI folks, like immigrants, like folks that have both identities, that get unequal access to all aspects of healthcare. And it causes them to stay sick, have worse health conditions, etc.”
Alvarez continued by discussing issues within the workforce.
“For TGI immigrants, it’s not only their status, but also their identity that determines whether or not they get access to the same benefits and resources as those with legal status, whether or not they can get a job that pays well enough to put a roof over their head, a job that can help them get food on the table, get the healthcare that they need,” said Alvarez.
Panelist Alvaro Huerta, director of litigation and advocacy at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), noted that under the current administration, transgender people and immigrants are two of the largest groups being targeted.
“If you look the wrong color, if you sound the wrong way, that’s who this administration is going for. Because of the way that we treat trans people, let alone trans immigrants, they may find themselves in those situations and, therefore, have that big target on their back,” Huerta said.
Another panelist, Bertie Hernandez, deportation defense senior manager with the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, shared their own experiences growing up transgender.
“There was a particular instance in which I was working at a restaurant, and the manager was just literally so homophobic toward me and transphobic…. I think all of this contributes to the greater violence that trans and gender non-conforming people are already suffering,” Hernandez said.
Alvarez also noted that under the current administration, spaces that were once considered safe are no longer viewed that way by many immigrants, including hospitals.
“If they don’t have access already to Medi-Cal or whatever program there is wherever they are, they’re already going to have a distrust of the healthcare system, and then, in this environment, even more. I wish we could tell people that hospitals are safe spaces, but they’re not. They really aren’t, unfortunately, under this administration,” Alvarez said.
The panel ended on a positive note with a discussion about the importance of remembering joy during difficult times.
“It seems like folks still want to show up for those pieces. And, yeah, just having fun while we’re fighting the hard stuff. And I think it’s these like little glimpses of joy and fun that help you get through today’s fight and also help you show up for tomorrow’s fight because there will be a fight tomorrow,” said Alvarez.
Additionally, Hernandez added the importance of anger and the importance of never losing sight of the fight.
Hernandez said, “I also think anger is important, too, and channeling that anger in a righteous way against what we’re seeing. Never lose the hope, never lose the joy, but I think it is important to be angry. We should be angry that this is happening now, and we should channel our anger into action. As I like to say, if there’s no dancing in the revolution, I don’t want to have anything to do with it.”
