Seattle Area LGBTQ+ groups see increased demand to serve Trans people

Seattle LGBTQ+ groups say requests to help trans people are on the rise as dozens of measures opposing transgender rights have been passed or introduced in state legislatures across the country.

Jesse Alalawi is a program director for Peer Seattle and one of the group's first transgender employees.

Alalawi said she tries to make sure trans people find help within a loosely knit network of advocacy groups, especially those who understand the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

“We do try to work together, and we do often help the same individuals, kind of creating a care team around an individual and helping them on their journey to survival,” she said.

Alalawi also heads up an online and in-person community group called Trans is Beautiful. She said she’s seen an increase in trans people seeking resources over the past few months.

Recently, a trans-masc person from Tennessee reached out to the group through one of its web sessions. Trans-masc is short for trans-masculine and refers to a person who was female but whose gender identity aligns more closely with masculinity.