Im hoping to move there soon, and i was hoping to make some connections before i go so i feel a bit more comfortable when i do.
Is anyone there who would be ok with being a friend? Please let me know.

Thank you,
Noelle

I dont live in Philly but have visited a few times. Great town! I'll be down there for a weekend in March if you want to grab a drink or something.

Philly's a great town to live in when you're trans. The Mazzoni Center is a great place and a great resource.

Parking sucks. Public transit sucks. The meter maids are the worst. Despite all of that, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Also, South Philly's generally lawless, so that works for me.

What brings you here, and where are you now? What part of the city are you trying to move to?

I dig Philly. Maybe some day.

@michelle
lol not there yet.
but id love to hang out.

@psychonaut
yeah thats why im trying to move there. the clinic may be my best option for transition.
im in va now, an i have no idea which part of philly. never been before.

@gwynne
hopefully soon.

Not in philly specifically, but in the outer suburbs near King of Prussia. Will be going to mazzoni myself in a bit. Scheduling for me is rough at the moment so I can't promise much.

Thats ok. Im just looking to be comfortable there right off the bat instead of freaking out when i get there. Hence the suggested connections.
Is king of prussia in pennsylvania?

I was born and raised in Phila. and work there as well ( I try to not speak and type "Philadelphian" buy sometimes it slips in). I live 500 feet outside Phila. I hope to some day move to the gayborhood.

William Way LGBTI center is a 1315 Spruce. They have group on Thursday nights 7-9 pm.

Mazzoni Center, 809 Locust, LGBT primary care, sliding scale. Have group and I will be going to that group soon. This is my primary and where I get HRT (next door at Walgreens). Mazzoni owns the Walgreens and we get HRT at cost. Under 24 you can walk in others need an appointment. There is a 3 month wait for an appointment so when appropriate register on the portal. You will need to do an intake and then schedule an appointment (3 month wait), get blood work then the scripts are issued ( use the portal and try to move things via sending blood work electronically and if on HRT forward your chart so you are seamless if you have HRT already). The great thing is the patient portal. You can communicate through the portal with your PA. The coolest thing is all the people working there are variant and most of the patients Trans*. I feel so at ease there. It is clean, well run and has great PA's. Ask for Dusty Latimer, PA-C he is super cool and beautiful, in a male way. His eyes are to die for and when he looks into your eyes ......I forget the questions I wanted to ask. So next time I will have a written list.

Mazzoni sponsors the Transgender Conference in late May or April.

Depending on your age there is the ATTIC for younger persons (under 21).

Gayborhood is a 12 block area where being LGBTI is welcomed.

I plan to attend group at Mazzoni soon. Also, the Woman's Therapy Center has some good therapists. I am in the process of switching therapists and checking out new persons.

We can meet at group when you move.

Word of caution, Phila is like any large city in USA. Know where you are and where you should not be and when you should not be in certain areas.

I live in Philly. I'd hang out with you but im young or youngish, so if there is a significant age gap we might not have much to talk about. I go to Mazzoni. It's great but it's just a healthcare center, remember. But it'a not a bad city so you have nothing to worry about, at all. I live in N. Philly and have not had one problem.

@cynthia
the gayborhood thing is kinda odd sinse i am asexual.
im sure its a nice place tho.
still planning on going fo the mazzoni center. thanks for the names, ill be sure to put them in my notes.
for the younger ones would i have to pay for the therapist, blood work, and hrt myself? or will they cover it?
friendship? :3

@joanna
im youngish too. 21 actually. im sure we can think of something to talk about. :p

I love the Reading Terminal Market. It is a very cool place where you can get a lot of different types of foods from vendors indoors.

The Italian Market has some fantastic food too!

Then there is China Town,

Do not forget South Washington Ave and the Vietnam section,

Center City has a lot of shops,

The Gayborhood has acceptance,

There are museums and art museums too.

Yes, where I go is safe.  I grew up in Philly, went to school in North Philly and Work in West Philly. 25 years ago I was at places that are dangerous.

Mazzoni uses a sliding scale.

lol you may just have to show me around cuz i get lost fairly easily. XD

also what do you mean by sliding scale?

Mazzoni (LGBT primary care) and the Woman's Therapy Center use a sliding scale for fees.

For example:

I have insurance, The fee for an office visit, HRT, blood work and therapy are charge in full. My insurance covers all but the deductible. I switched insurances and TRANS* care is covered so now Therapy is costing me $2,200 per year not $6,000 per year.

Those who do not have means or insurance are charge a reduced amount appropriate to their ability (sliding scale of fee).

Mazzoni has  a food bank too.

Elaine Dutton at Mazzoni is great, she is also at the Woman' s Therapy Center. I did my intake with her and she is very compassionate and understanding. She sees a lot of Trans*. There is an intake at the Woman's Therapy Center too.

I can show you around. The city ( down town) is easy to understand. Ben Franklin set up the road grid 250 years ago.

At group there are a lot of really nice people. I have talked to some who go to group at William Way (their group is 7-9 pm which is really late for me). There is a mixture of age and status. The centers are cool in that every variety of ethnicity is represented. I have no filters and am attracted to all races and mixtures, genders and gender variances.

Quote from: Emo on January 04, 2014, 10:52:50 PM
Is king of prussia in pennsylvania?

KoP is about 30ish min westish of phily. Largest mall on the east coast.

@cynthia
I found out that its free under 24. So i might be good. Unless i read it wrong.
It sounds very inviting. I might visit before i move just to see how it is.
I know ill be calling ahead to see about it.

@lg
Ive only been to Hershey for our senior trip. It was fun tho. :3

I am older so I never clicked on the link till now.

I just did a cut and paste for the drop in program. I do not know if trans* care is free, call and find out.


Youth Drop-In Hours
Caption:
weekly youth drop-in clinic



Programs:
Medical Care ,  HIV & STD Testing ,  Youth Services 
Wednesdays from 5 to 7 pm Mazzoni Center offers youth drop-in hours at our Family and Community Medicine practice at 809 Locust Street.



Weekly Youth Drop-In Clinic
• Free medical care offered for individuals aged 14-24 years old.
• No appointment or insurance required.
• HIV testing and counseling offered, along with risk reduction tips, health education, and information on our safe school programs.
• Other services include: food, tokens, hyigene kits, assistance with benefit applications and housing, mental health, education and vocation referrals
• Legal, dental and vocational referrals also available.

For more information contact Bevin @ 215-563-0658 x 321 or via email.

The text lists medical care under the drop-in services offered. If you follow the link, there's a list of medical services included. HRT, therapy, and "trans-specific health" appear to all be included.

Quote from: Emo on January 04, 2014, 08:33:40 PM
Im hoping to move there soon, and i was hoping to make some connections before i go so i feel a bit more comfortable when i do.
Is anyone there who would be ok with being a friend? Please let me know.

Thank you,
Noelle

Hi Noelle,

I live in NE Philly & am happy to meet other transfolk   

That said, I am in my mid-40s.  I may not have too much in common with you outside of being trans.

Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on January 05, 2014, 07:52:42 AM
William Way LGBTI center is at 1315 Spruce St. They have group on Thursday nights 7-9 pm.

Mazzoni Center, 809 Locust St, LGBT primary care, sliding scale. Have group and I will be going to that group soon. This is my primary and where I get HRT (next door at Walgreens).

There is a 3 month wait for an appointment so when appropriate register on the portal. You will need to do an intake and then schedule an appointment (3 month wait), get blood work then the scripts are issued (use the portal and try to move things via sending blood work electronically and if on HRT forward your chart so you are seamless if you have HRT already). The great thing is the patient portal. You can communicate through the portal with your PA. The coolest thing is all the people working there are variant and most of the patients Trans*. I feel so at ease there. It is clean, well run and has great PA's. Ask for Dusty Latimer, PA-C he is super cool and beautiful, in a male way. His eyes are to die for and when he looks into your eyes ......I forget the questions I wanted to ask. So next time I will have a written list.

Mazzoni sponsors the Philly Trans Health Conference in the Philly Convention Centre.  This year it is on 12-14 June:  http://www.trans-health.org

I second Cynthia's comments about the Mazzoni Centre (although I had a 2-month wait: Apr-Jun 2013).  It was a great relief to be able to get HRT without being required to present as female first.  Even 6.5 months after starting E, I am still too scared of socially transitioning to bring myself to present as female outside of my house.

Cynthia mentioned a Thursday evening support group at 1315 Spruce St.  I see there is also another group meeting on Thursdays, from 6-7pm at 21 S 12th St (Mazzoni's other location, docs are all at 809 Locust though).  I have been lazy about going to anything down in Centre City, even though I also go to the Mazzoni Centre for my HRT.  Centre City isn't too awkward for me to get to since I have parking a few blocks from the Mazzoni Centre, so I am hoping to show up at least a few Thursdays per month this year - starting this coming Thursday.  I do hope attending in guy-mode will be OK.

If you're here by June, do check out the PTHC (there is no entry fee).  I definitely aim to be there; findable at each of the 12-step meetings.

Bye for now,

Tessa 

Thanks Tessa!
i dont know how soon ill be heading up there but it seems to be my best option so i hope to get there soon.
ill try to make it to those meetings if i do get there.

also anyone who thinks we wont have anything to talk about, i can talk about anything if im comfortable enough. :p