Cincinnati awards $225k to orgs supporting trans youth mental health

A year after the Cincinnati City Council earmarked $500,000 to spend on transgender youth’s mental health over the next two years, the city’s grant foundation announced the organizations and initiatives that would be receiving the funding for year one.

Cincinnati made a commitment to trans youth mental health care shortly after Ohio’s ban on gender-affirming care was legalized by a federal judge last November. The goal was to fill gaps in the city’s healthcare ecosystem, said Councilman Mark Jeffreys during a November 2024 meeting.

Community Shares of Cincinnati awarded funds to nine different organizations including Transform Cincy, Equality Ohio, the National Association of Social Workers Foundation and Queer Kentucky.

If organizations make progress on the grants, their funding will be renewed next year, said T. Duane Gordon, CEO of Community Shares in a release.

According to the release, Community Shares worked with experts on gender-affirming care, trans youth and parents of LGBTQ+ children to review and score the applications.

The complete list of grantees are:

$50,000 to Transform Cincy to expand its community center programming for LGBTQIA+ youths to include weekends and after-school hours.
$40,000 to Heartland Trans Wellness to develop, fund, and host trainings on trans sensitivity for doctors, teachers, and other professionals using a panel of trans youth.
$31,575 to Equality Ohio Education Fund to fund legal clinics for name changes and gender identifier marker updates.
$23,425 to National Association of Social Workers Foundation (Ohio Chapter) to fund publication of a guide for healthcare providers on the limitations on gender-affirming care available under new federal and state restrictions.
$22,500 to GLSEN Greater Cincinnati to expand weekly youth groups for trans youths as well as emergency funding.
$20,000 for a Cincinnati Trans Youth Virtual Magazine (operated under greater Cincinnati area magazine publisher Queer Kentucky) to create a new online newsmagazine for and by Cincinnati’s trans youth.
$15,000 to TransOhio to fund a Trans & Ally Symposium.
$12,000 to Camp Lilac to increase awareness and accessibility for Cincinnati trans youth to attend the state’s only summer camp dedicated to trans youths.
$10,500 to TransMasc Cincy to sponsor older trans youths (ages 18-24) to participate in intergenerational retreats

‘Direct and tangible impact’

LGBTQ+ organizations praised the news, particularly as it represents substantive action by Cincinnati lawmakers.

“In a time when trans youth are facing an intense amount of personal and community trauma inflicted by those with power, many municipalities are choosing to do nothing,” said Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio. “Cincinnati has chosen a unique, substantial action to help support young trans people during this moment.”

Adkison said that so many people, including community members and elected officials, reach out wanting to know what they actually can do in the present moment to support Ohio’s trans community. Although there “isn’t one right answer,” Adkison urged supporters to follow Cincinnati’s example in taking action that will have a “direct and tangible impact.”

“Cincinnati’s trans youth support grants will help people directly across all aspects of life by providing support services, programs, and resources that will have positive ripple effects within the community for years to come,” Adkison said. “This use of funding speaks to the values of Cincinnati’s leadership, and it would be amazing to see efforts like theirs not be so unique.”

New mental health support group serves as positive resource for LGBTQ+ community in Greater Cincinnati

Other LGBTQ+ organizations echoed the game-changing nature of these grants.

“Equality Ohio is deeply grateful to Community Shares and the City of Cincinnati for investing in the legal needs of transgender and nonbinary youth and their families,” said Kate Mozynski, legal director of Equality Ohio. “We love Cincinnati, and we are honored to work alongside families and allies to ensure every trans young person here has the safety, support, and dignity they deserve.”

TransForm Cincy Co-Founder Tristan Vought said the organization was “deeply grateful” to Cincinnati.

“This support allows us to expand access to affirming spaces and critical resources, ensuring that young people have safe, supportive, and empowering environments after school and on weekends,” Vought said.

Queer Kentucky was “honored” to receive the funding to launch a digital magazine focused on trans youth “rooted in” the city, said Executive Director Missy Spears.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Cincinnati to expand our Trans Youth Magazine into a project created with and for their residents,” Spears said. “This collaboration means more young people will see their stories reflected back to them – and that visibility can be life-saving.” 🔥