BOSTON, APRIL 29, 2024— Twenty-four states have barred access to gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth, while countless discriminatory bills targeting TGD communities have been introduced across the country. In the wake of this assault on the rights and safety of TGD youth, The Fenway Institute has released a policy brief titled Gender-affirming care for adolescents: Understanding the fundamental components and scientific support for lifesaving gender affirmation which outlines the importance of gender-affirming care for TGD youth and outlines the medical ..read more

On April 26, the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services issued a new nondiscrimination rule in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The rule will replace the “Rollback Rule” implemented during the Trump-Pence Administration which undermined health care nondiscrimination protections. “We commend the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services for issuing this important nondiscrimination rule,” said Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research at the Fenway Institute. “It will explicitly protect the right of millions of sexua ..read more

Good morning!    My thanks to Fenway Health and The Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast Committee for giving me this opportunity to speak with you today and to all who’ve kept this event going for a remarkable 34 years. I’ve been attending these gatherings since they were still at Villa Victoria in the South End — and that very closeted young lesbian I was then would never have imagined that I would be the one standing here attempting to give a keynote address.    If you will indulge me for a minute, before I move onto my main theme, I just want to quickly address ..read more

March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), which commemorates the achievements and resilience of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people around the world, including our own staff, patients, and supporters. Founded by transgender activist Rachel Crandall in 2009, TDOV is a day to reflect on progress in combatting misinformation, discrimination, and hate impacting our community.   For Fenway Health and our Trans Health Program, it is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to providing comprehensive, compassionate healthcare and services to all members of the TGD com ..read more

BOSTON — Late yesterday, Plaintiffs in Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY) et al v. HHS, a lawsuit challenging the Trump-Pence Administration’s “Rollback Rule” undermining health care nondiscrimination protections contained in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), filed a motion for summary judgment calling on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to repeal the discriminatory rule. The Trump-era regulation attempted to roll back express protections on the basis of sex — including pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotypi ..read more

We want to provide an update on the upcoming move of care and services from 142 Berkeley Street (the South End) to 1340 Boylston Street that will happen this summer and answer questions that have come up in conversations with many of you. We have confirmed plans to place providers and care team members on a floor at 1340 Boylston Street with other Fenway Health providers in the same specialty and keep them together. This will allow your care team to continue to work collaboratively to foster connections and care for you in the most efficient way. This has been what has made the feel of Fenway ..read more

Fenway Health is proud to be an official partner in the 2024 Bank of America Boston Marathon® Official Charity Program. We are honored to have Fabian Benabente, Ali Hamilton, and Myles Spar running on our behalf. Here are their stories: Fabian Benabente: Running never came naturally to me nor was it an activity I enjoyed. Almost two decades ago when I enlisted in the Army, running became a part of my life (not by choice). While deployed in support of O.I.F., running helped fill my time and became my main source of fitness. I would have copies of Runner’s World shipped to me where I learned ab ..read more

International Women’s Day is commemorated on Friday, March 8, imagining a gender-equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. It falls during the early days of Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the remarkable contributions and legacies of women who have shaped history and influenced positive change in society. Today at Fenway Health, we pay tribute to trailblazers and healthcare heroes with Fenway connections like Judy Bradford, Dr. Susan M. Love, and Eilakeisha Spencer. Dr. Judy BradFord Judy Bradford, PhD, a beloved founder and Co-Chair of The Fenway Institute, dedica ..read more

BOSTON, MARCH 4, 2024—A new policy brief published today by Fenway Health and MPact Global Action finds that gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men and transgender and nonbinary people at high risk of infection with Hepatitis A & B possess significant knowledge of Hepatitis A & B and are open to receiving Hepatitis A & B vaccinations. But negative experiences in healthcare settings, and other barriers to health care access can prevent them from obtaining vaccines or vaccine boosters. A second policy brief found that even though many providers perceive that their patients hav ..read more

The Fenway Health Board of Directors announced today that it has hired its Chief Operating Officer Jordina Shanks as Fenway Health’s Interim CEO when Manny Lopes steps down from the role on March 15, 2024. Shanks is a healthcare expert with over 30 years’ experience in a variety of settings in the Greater Boston area. She has a proven record of improving profitability, safety and quality, and patient, provider, and staff satisfaction. Since joining Fenway Health in 2021, she has employed a data-driven approach to assess and respond to issues and concerns, encouraged innovative, staff-driven s ..read more