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About The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative


Founded in 2008 as the GenderQueer Coalition, The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative (MTQWI or EM-T-Queee) took on it's name in 2010 after foundational work was completed and a greater vision was formed.  MTQWI  is a young organization with a big long term plan dedicated to the facilitation and actualization of gender identity-centered activism, community-building, education, and wellness. Wellness is defined here as an overall sense of happiness, psychological and emotional well-adjustment, physical health, belonging, and safety. MTQWI aims to promote wellness in Midwestern trans* and queer communities by providing accessible, inclusive, and affirming resources through comprehensive educational programming, community building, creative cultural growth, and socially just activist work. 


Mission Statement

The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative (MTQWI) is dedicated to the development and actualization of physical, emotional, and social health and wellness resources. The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative will provide educational and organizational resources in order to support, assist, and facilitate the development and formation of community lead initiatives aimed at servicing trans*, transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, fluid, gender questioning, gender variant, and queer populations their related intersectional communities in the greater Midwestern region of the United States of America through activism, community-building, education, and resource creation.


Action Plan

As MTQWI grows, points of action will come into place to fulfill the greater vision of the project. Some of MTQWI goals and objectives are:

  • Promote activist involvement in trans* and queer focused activist causes and movements, locally and nationally
  • Establish a network of trans* and queer organizations in the Midwest
  • Foster positive, trans* focused social spaces for community building and support
  • Create and provide educational resources for trans* and queer education, community building, and wellness
  • Promote accessible, non-pathologizing health care and resources for Midwest trans* and queer communities 
  • Provide educational services for health care professionals to combat trans pathologization
    1. Create an online data base of Midwestern gender identity-variant supportive professionals
    2. Develop comprehensive gender identity-focused educational trainings program for schools and workplaces
    3. Advocate for trans* and queer inclusive legislation in Midwestern states and nationally
    4. Establish trans* and queer community centers and wellness clinics based in affirming, non-pathologizing methodologies
    5. Create an endowment to cultivate accessible trans* and queer health clinics and community centers in Midwestern states