QueerCare was founded by trans activists. The organization is currently led entirely by unpaid transgender volunteers and offers no-strings-attached financial support as well as free in-person post-op care to folks undergoing gender-affirming surgeries in SF and NYC. As many trans folks may face familial rejection and lack social support, QueerCare aims to fill that gap through community care.
QueerCare’s mission statement is to assist queer individuals with the care they need.
Many people in the LGBTQ+ community face hardships that leave them in poverty, harassed, or without the support system needed to undertake medical procedures and gender-affirming surgeries. In addition, the current political climate is actively hostile towards the needs of trans people to access gender-affirming care.
We hope to make it easier for trans, GNC, and LGBTQ people to plan and schedule their medical procedures knowing that they have a community-based support system that will be there for them throughout the process. Although the leadership of QueerCare Inc. is entirely trans, volunteers are not required to be trans to support the community. Care recipients are welcome to request that they be supported only by trans volunteers.
QueerCare offers free pre/post-operative support. We usually offer both financial support through reimbursements (apologies: this program is currently on pause) and in-person volunteer support. Our in-person services include, but are not limited to:
- Help with basic post-op care that a surgeon or nurse would explain
- Light bandage changing/cleaning, drain clearings
- Keeping a medication log
- Transportation
- Meal prep/cooking
- Grocery shopping
- Laundry and cleaning
- Pet or child care
- Emotional support and accompaniment throughout and after surgical proceedings
Virtual emotional and social support shifts are also available!
Almost all of the requests that we receive are for support with gender-affirming surgeries, however, we consider requests from the entire LGBTQ community when we have the capacity- even with surgeries or diseases that are not transition-related. Some examples: people struggling with autoimmune disorders including HIV and AIDS, and people fighting cancer. All care requests are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: Following our mission and values, QueerCare especially prioritizes care requests from trans people of color.
Media Mentions:
We would love your help getting the word out to more people about the free support we might be able to offer them.
Please help us get the word out about our services by inviting us to table at your NYC, Bay Area, or Chicago area event, telling your friends, telling other trans and LGBTQ people on Reddit about us, telling your medical providers about us, interacting with us on Instagram, inviting us on your podcasts, writing pieces about our work, and more!
Here are some places we've spotted QueerCare in the news so far:
March 31, 2024
Cornerstone Doula Trainings Blog
https://www.cornerstonedoulatrainings.com/community-blog/tdov
July 13, 2023
The Trans Agenda (a podcast episode with co-president Lee)
June 23, 2023
Reckon (an interview with co-president Lee)
White and Warren Blog (an interview with co-founder Carmen)
https://www.whiteandwarren.com/blogs/journal/phluid-phoundation-pride-shop-donation-2022
March 11, 2021
The Verge (a mention of our grassroots work and a link to our Instagram)
https://www.theverge.com/22303892/queer-care-networks-online-queercare-for-the-gworls-transanta