Q Card Project, LLC

mission: at the q card project, we believe that all queer/trans* youth deserve quality, sensitive healthcare that meets their needs, recognizes their agency, and empowers them to be active participants in their health. and we think the q card can help make this happen. project founder genya shimkin developed the q card idea in 2012, while working on a master’s degree at the university of washington school of public health. with help from a classmate, genya set out to create a simple communication tool that could improve healthcare for queer youth. between 2012 and 2013, she developed a sample version of the q card, and brought it to interviews with local healthcare providers, educators, youth advocates, and queer/trans* youth themselves. in these conversations, she asked for feedback on the card content and design, and asked about ways to improve relationships between queer youth and healthcare providers. after collecting all of their input and ideas, which showed that people loved the