Following the initial news of funding withdrawal for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center’s Trans Chicago Empowerment center, it’s still unclear how the organization will be able to continue its work.
A little over two months ago, the Trump administration issued an executive order halting federal funding for anything related to transgender minors. It also cracked down on the use of any federal dollars for gender-related services.
As of Feb. 7, 15 people had been laid off from Trans Chicago according to Director of Public Health Ricardo Jimenez. Through a mutual aid drive posted on Instagram, he said they were able to raise a few hundred dollars to support some of the people affected.
However, Jimenez said the grants were soon reinstated around mid-February as the organization got word that the cancellation of funding was going to go to the courts. They were able to rehire people who were initially let go and continue their events.
He’s been in contact with a project manager from the CDC, where the initial grant funds were from, but it’s unpredictable what will happen in the future.
“It’s kind of unstable because the project officers don’t know if they’ll be working or not,” Jimenez said. “Or, if they’ll be eliminated.”
One of the grants, which was directed to youth ages 13-18, ended on March 31. As of April 1, Jimenez said it remained unclear whether or not it’ll be refunded in the new year. With the Trump administration’s stance on gender-affirming care for youth, he doesn’t think it has a chance of being renewed.
The second grant, one for 18 and over, is also potentially in jeopardy, he said. In the Jan. 28 executive order, the language specifically states it is against care for those “19 and under,” which falls under the grant’s jurisdiction since it covers 18-year-olds.
This grant is set to expire June 30, so Jimenez said he is working to move streams of funding around to help cover what employees were under the 13- to 18-year-old services grant.
Trump also rescinded millions of dollars in federal funding for Chicago-based programs, where Jimenez said the Chicago Department of Public Health lost two grants assisting the LGBTQ+ community. Under the administration’s potential plans to cut HIV prevention from the CDC and move it to the HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), $700 million could further be cut.
Jimenez said the organization is currently searching for private founders or those through foundations. Sidetrack also recently hosted an event to fundraise for Trans Chicago as well.
The future of the program remains uncertain—Jimenez said he doesn’t even know about the future of his own position if funding continues to be cut. For now, he said he’s focused on working with what they have and keeping as much staff and programming as they can.