WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration, through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has allocated nearly $700,000 towards the development of a national pregnancy prevention program specifically for transgender boys. This initiative, spearheaded by the Center for Innovative Public Health Research, is set to employ a text-messaging strategy originally designed for cisgender sexual minority girls aged 14-18.
The program aims to address the unique challenges faced by transgender boys, who are biologically female, in their sexual health decisions. Studies indicate that transgender boys are less likely to use condoms during intercourse with partners who have penises and have a comparable pregnancy risk as cisgender girls.
Key elements of the program include conducting focus groups to understand the factors influencing sexual decisions among transgender boys. These insights will guide the creation of content that resonates with this demographic. The program’s efficacy will be tested on 700 transgender boys nationwide, measuring success by the rates of condom usage and adoption of other birth control methods in the 14-18 age group.
This funding is part of a broader investment by the Biden administration in transgender health and research programs. In June, the National Institute of Health (NIH) funded an online mentorship program for LGBTQ youth with over $200,000. This project, led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Professor Katie Edwards, focuses on enhancing social-emotional skills in LGBTQ youth.
Additionally, HHS granted over $1 million in August 2022 to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. This funding is dedicated to studying the risk of thrombosis in transgender adolescents undergoing hormonal therapy for sex change.
These initiatives highlight the administration’s commitment to addressing the diverse health needs within the transgender community, particularly among youth.