Oregon's Department of Corrections (DOC) has established a new role for a gender-affirming care coordinator, a position with an annual salary range of $78,000 to $115,000. The coordinator will oversee programs for managing the needs and safety risks of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary adults in custody, and will chair a team focused on their individualized care.
This initiative comes as the DOC faces a projected $55 million deficit in 2026. The hiring aligns with efforts by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who has been a vocal advocate for the transgender community, to address care disparities for incarcerated individuals. A 2023 review of the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon's only women-only prison, highlighted instances of delayed or denied care for both cisgender and transgender inmates, including hormone replacement therapy.
One transgender resident at Coffee Creek reported delays in receiving her prescribed hormone blockers, leading to significant distress. In response to such issues, Governor Kotek's administration formed an Advisory Panel on Gender Responsive Practices in Corrections. The panel recommended staff training on the needs of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse inmates, although it did not specifically call for the coordinator position.
The creation of this role occurs despite a statewide directive for agencies to reduce spending, prompted by a projected general fund balance deficit of -$373.7 million. Governor Kotek had previously instructed departments to slow operational spending, prepare for cost reductions, and suspend non-essential travel.
Despite budgetary challenges, Kotek has consistently emphasized gender-affirming care as a critical component of healthcare. Her administration has also opposed federal efforts to restrict funding for hospitals providing gender-affirming procedures to minors. The Oregon Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the new position and its specific duties.