KSHB 41: Kansas City Center for Inclusion spearheads Gender Affirmation Project

gps flag

By Gabriella Pagán

Not talking about gender dysphoria – feelings of distress regarding gender identity and sex assigned at birth – can be detrimental, according to one Kansas Citian.

“You have to talk about it. You have to bring it up. It has to be a topic of conversation," Josiah Alvidrez said, "and if you have the ability to help – then do that."

It's that message of being the change that spearheaded the Gender-Affirmation Project at Kansas City's Center for Inclusion (KCCI), of which Alvidrez is an applicant. The project is intended to help trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming and gender-diverse people in need by providing a $1,000 grant to help pay for gender-affirming surgery.

Dr. Angela Turpin, a pediatric endocrinologist with Children's Mercy Hospital's Gender Pathway Services, said the project's efforts to raise money for these surgeries is huge.

"We know from various studies that anywhere from 40-60% of transgender individuals who are not provided gender-affirming care will attempt or have attempted suicide," Turpin said.

Gender-affirming surgery changes a person's sexual characteristics to better reflect their gender identity. It's a journey Turpin said is life-altering and she hopes others understand the gravity of.

“To get people to recognize that – that it changes that person's entire trajectory on their life, what they are able to accomplish and what they are able to contribute to society can really be impacted by that one surgery,“ Turpin said.

See the full story via KSHB 41

Learn more about the Gender Pathway Services clinic at Children's Mercy