Trans Care BC – Strategic Infographic & The Remedy

Here are some positive visuals to support gender-affirming health care. The first is a new visual strategic plan for Trans Care BC. These three small drawings tell a bigger story, and are the foundation to the infographic (designed by Karianne Blank).

Established in 2015 as a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority, Trans Care BC puts BC on the map as the first and only province in Canada to create a system to support transgender health. Trans Care BC provides important services and care to transgender and gender-diverse people across the province. These services are client-centered, ensure access to gender-affirming health care for all ages, and support community-building that ensures access to accurate information. They do this through implementation of international standards of care, use of evidence-based research, and sharing best practices. This model of care includes respecting the needs and perspectives of different cultures such as Two-Spirit people.

In my illustrations, I focused on creating cheerfulness, and minimized the medical feelings as much as possible. In the first panel, I imagined a parent and teacher talking about how happy the student is to come to school, knowing they belong. In the second drawing, I wanted to create a positive encounter with a health care provider (who may also be part of the trans community, if the short haircut isn’t a good enough clue!). In this scene, there’s a trusted person taking notes for the patient, because allies are important. I wanted the focus to be the trans* woman talking, and not the doctor because trans women and two-spirit people are going to be the most affected by the compounding effects of poor health care. In the third drawing, the patient has successfully undergone a desired surgical intervention and is giving the thumbs-up sign: Trans Care BC is here to help navigate the medical system.

Coincidentally, while we were working on this strategic plan and other infographics for Trans Care BC, I was also drawing illustrations for the recently released queer and trans health anthology The Remedy (Arsenal Pulp, 2016), edited by Zena Sharman. It recently made the National Post’s best books of 2016 list (congrats Zena!).

Zena asked me to illustrate five case studies – truly unique examples of tools and resources that promote gender affirming care. There’s the Q Card program, Vancouver’s own Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre, a deck of affirmation cards, and more. Here’s a peek at the illustrations.

The Remedy is highly recommended for all the health practitioners in your life, and can be purchased at the following sites.

“To remedy means to heal, to cure, to set right, to make reparations.The Remedy invites writers and readers to imagine what we need to create healthy, resilient, and thriving LGBTQ communities.”

There’s still a long way to go for trans people to close the gaps in health equity, live as long as non-trans people, and be recognized and celebrated. Hearing the stories in The Remedy, and knowing Trans Care BC is here to navigate the health system – gives me much hope for a better future.