MTPC Launches IDA Network + Partnership with Namesake Collaborative

On International Trans Day of Visibility 2022, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is announcing the launch of our Identity Document Assistance (IDA) Network and our partnership with Namesake Collaborative to better support trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members in New England who are working to correct their name and gender on legal identity documents. Nearly 80% of respondents to our 2019-2020 community needs assessment listed identity documents as one of their top legal needs. Read Namesake’s press release about our partnership.

While not everyone needs an attorney’s assistance, this is a very overwhelming and complicated process that can take many months or years to complete. This is why we are partnering with Namesake Collaborative, a trans-led, Massachusetts-based business, to create an innovative and affirming new platform to streamline this process for our community. Namesake will provide on-demand guidance and support that will allow the IDA Network to have a broader reach than other identity document support programs. It will additionally reduce the strain on pro bono legal services that are likely unnecessary in many cases. We plan to launch a pilot of Namesake in Summer 2022. Initially, Namesake will only be available to residents of Massachusetts but we anticipate expanding to other states in New England as soon as 2023. If you are interested in being a beta tester for the Namesake platform or finding other ways to get involved, please follow the link below.

Sign Up to Get Involved with Namesake!

The second major component of the IDA Network is the Financial Assistance Fund which helps cover the fees associated with this process for those who cannot afford to pay. These fees can exceed $300, which does not including postage, transportation, passport photos, legal assistance, and so on. If you are able, please consider donating to the Financial Assistance Fund to provide much needed assistance to our community.

Donate to the IDA Network Financial Assistance Fund

While the IDA Network does not currently provide legal representation or legal counsel, we do provide references to appropriate legal resources, most of which are free. Learn more about the IDA Network.

If you are a lawyer or legal agency that would like to join the IDA Network and provide free legal assistance to the trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community for identity document corrections please contact MG Xiong!

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition works to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary and gender expansive community members in MA. We educate the public, advocate at state, local and systemic levels; and through collective action, we mobilize community, engage in capacity building, and advance community wellness and prosperity. Learn more about MTPC.

Posted on March 31, 2022.