Transgender, Inters*x, Non-Binary, and GNC Services (TINGS), formerly Trans Equity Project, formerly known as Trans-Health Information Project (TIP), is a program based in Philadelphia, PA for Trans and Gender variant individuals, run by Trans and Gender variant individuals. In 2001, several local grassroots leaders in the community, including ancestor Jaci Adams, found it imperative to have a Trans program that was run by people of the same community it served. In 2003, GALAEI launched the Trans-health Information Project (TIP) with program partner Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP). TIP is the largest multi-service, peer-delivered and peer-led transgender program in Philadelphia. GALAEI and PPP, in collaboration with Ben Singer and Marcus Iannozzi, two transgender leaders in Philadelphia, created TIP to address the unsafe silicone and hormone injection use of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. In late 2006, GALAEI’s TIP program was awarded a demonstration project grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This three-year effort expanded the program’s services by offering HIV counseling and testing and provided formative research necessary to model the group level intervention (GLI) effort in other cities. This unique contribution of the TIP program included significant leadership and input from the transgender and gender nonconforming communities. TIP started out with just 3 outreach workers, growing to a team of 8 by 2006, as it launched its youth-based effort: Project S.T.A.R.R. - Strengthening Trans Adolescents (in) Risk Reduction. The project helped young Trans and Gender variant youth build skills in self-advocacy and safe-s*x education. Under its new name, the Trans Equity Project continues to provide numerous health and wellness resources and services, while creating safe, affirming spaces for Trans and Gender variant individuals. Trans Equity Project offers health and safety workshops, support and advocacy, referrals to hormone therapy and access to clean syringes for hormone injections, help with name and gender marker changes, referrals to affordable and non-judgmental healthcare services, assistance with housing and job placement, safe s*x kits, and free HIV & STI screenings, in a safer, supportive, affirming and non-judgmental environment. The Trans Equity Project also organizes demonstrations, rallies and events that promote and encourage the resilience, co-powerment and liberation of our communities.
