116 trans people receive life-changing electrolysis care
Demand far outpaces funding!
Point of Pride has announced the recipients of its 2026 Electrolysis Support Fund, awarding $269,750 to 116 transgender people seeking permanent hair removal. Each recipient received about $2,305, supporting care that can be critical to safety, confidence, and daily life.
An estimated 2.8 million transgender adults live in the United States, many of whom need gender-affirming services such as hair removal, hormone therapy, or surgeries. Yet access remains limited, with nearly 29.4% of transgender people living in poverty and many facing insurance and policy barriers that leave essential services out of reach. Electrolysis, in particular, is frequently excluded from coverage, even under plans that otherwise include gender-affirming care.
“People often think of hair removal as cosmetic, but for many trans people, it’s essential,” said Tyler Rodriguez, Director of Programs at Point of Pride. “This support can change how someone moves through the world, helping them feel safer and more at home in their body.”
Nearly 700 applied for support, underscoring a growing gap in access to gender-affirming care. This is the only program of its kind expanding access to permanent hair removal for trans people facing safety and financial barriers.
“Hair removal has seriously changed my life for the better; I am so much less dysphoric,” said a recipient named Pyxie (she/her). “Waking up every day and not having to worry about my beard has truly just been the biggest blessing. I just feel so much safer in the world.”
The selected recipients were chosen from a pool of 696 applicants, highlighting the scale of unmet need. This year’s recipients reflect the communities most impacted by financial, geographic, and systemic barriers to care:
- 94% are trans women and femme-identified people
- 54% are people of color
- 64% live in states with high levels of anti-trans legislation
- 69% are living with a disability or chronic illness
- 80% have experienced housing insecurity, including 34.5% currently
- Ages range from 17 to 72, with an average age of 35
Since its launch in 2018, the Electrolysis Support Fund has awarded more than $1.7 million to 838 recipients. What began as a small pilot supporting three people with $1,000 grants has grown into the only program of its kind that is focused on permanent hair removal for trans people. To better meet recipients’ needs, Point of Pride expanded support this year to include increased transportation assistance through Uber vouchers and funding for pain management.
“Most of the people who support this work are part of the community or closely connected to it,” said Jeff Main, Executive Director of Point of Pride. “It’s people showing up for each other, helping someone else feel safer and more comfortable in their body.”
The program is funded largely through community support, from major fundraisers like Mercury Stardust’s Stream-a-Thon for Trans Health to individual donations. Applications for the program open annually each February.
For trans women and femmes, access to hair removal can be critical to navigating daily life safely, helping reduce the risk of harassment and discrimination and supporting confidence and overall well-being. Trans men and other transmasculine people may also require electrolysis as part of their care, though access remains inconsistent across the community.
Point of Pride’s Electrolysis Support Fund helps make this essential service possible while also creating space for trans joy, dignity, and the ability to live more freely. For more information, visit www.pointofpride.org.
Point of Pride is a nonprofit organization led by transgender people that provides financial aid and direct, life-saving health services to trans youth and adults worldwide. To date, Point of Pride has awarded $5.45 million in financial aid and supported 30,000 people across all 50 states and globally.
The Gayly online. 6/10/26 @ 2:30 p.m. CST.