The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.5 million health initiative earlier this week, funding services for LGBTQ+ residents.
The newly approved funding will go towards expanding access to gender-affirming healthcare, mental health services, crisis response, and healthcare navigation for the county’s LGBTQ+ residents.
In 2025, the Trump administration cut more than $800 million in grant funding for LGBTQ+ health programs and research, according to reporting from the New York Times
Joe Hawkins is the co-founder of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. In June of last year, Hawkins told the Board of Supervisors his organization was one of those affected
"The Trump administration recently cut a grant that we had," said Hawkins, over a year ago. "One third of our budget is gone."
Tuesday’s health initiative is the county filling in funding gaps left by the federal government.
