Today we are sharing a beautiful blog post written by Cornerstone alumn Lee Mariño Clyne.

March 31st is the Trans Day of Visibility. This holiday was created by transgender activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker, as a reaction to the existence of only one holiday recognizing the trans community: the Trans Day of Remembrance, a time of mourning and processing of the violence the trans community faces. 

The Trans Day of Visibility is a day that draws attention to both the needs of the trans community and the actions that can be taken to support us. One way to empower the community is by bolstering the trans people working to support their community. 

One such trans activist is former Cornerstone full scholarship recipient and current QueerCare Inc. Co-President, Lee Mariño Clyne (they/he/elle/él). Lee completed the Advanced Full Spectrum Doula Training to become a Certified Full Spectrum Doula and their training laid the foundation for them to lead an organization based on providing care to their communities.

QueerCare is 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 San Francisco and New York City. As many trans folks may face familial rejection and lack social support, QueerCare aims to fill that gap through community care. 

Gender doula work is an emerging field within carework. Lee took the knowledge they gained from their Cornerstone training and applied it to address a need in their community that was not being met. You can support our scholarship to inspire other future activists like Lee here.

As the Cornerstone website says, “Cornerstone is a collaborative, educational community hub that provides full spectrum, intersectional birthwork trainings rooted in harm reduction, inclusivity and reproductive justice. Our programming supports birthworkers and careworkers to serve their communities in every transition throughout their lives.” As a careworker motivated to provide emotional support to their community through gender transitions, Lee was inspired to complete their work with QueerCare. 

While the personal health decisions of trans individuals are made public for debate and access to gender-affirming care is restricted around the country, QueerCare endeavors to enable trans individuals to receive medical care and feel supported through their recovery. 

QueerCare Inc. is searching for donations and volunteers. Take this holiday to give back to the transgender community and consider volunteering your time or sponsoring to support the mission of QueerCare. The organization’s ability to fill shifts is dependent on the willingness of kind people to donate their time to others. QueerCare can sometimes connect people with housing for their surgery recovery if a volunteer has a guest bedroom to share and would love to find more housing support, receive more donations, and connect with volunteers in both the cities that are currently served and in additional new cities where there are many more trans folks in need! While the leadership of QueerCare is trans, anyone who wants to offer social, emotional, or practical support to others through completing care shifts or offering housing or transportation is welcome to do so. QueerCare has also started offering virtual shifts and has virtual administrative work for volunteers who do not live in SF or NYC. 

When one of our communities is under attack, we are all under attack. And the trans community deserves our support! 

In community and solidarity, 

QueerCare Inc. 

website: QueerCare Inc.

email: info@queercareinc.org

instagram: @queercareinc

donations: Support Our Efforts!