Peoria residents who identify as transgender will have more local options for health services, like hormone therapy.

Planned Parenthood announced Wed. its centers in Peoria and Pekin will begin offering hormone treatment and preventative care, specifically for transgender patients as soon as Aug. 1.

Peoria Transgender Society Co-chair Kristen Haley says it’s a step forward for improving options available in Peoria.

“Access to necessary healthcare services is the biggest challenge transgender people face, whether the reasons are economic or geographical,” Haley said.

Peoria residents seeking transgender-specific healthcare services currently have to travel to cities like Chicago for comprehensive treatment, Haley said.

Planned Parenthood says treatment will be administered by a team that includes an advance practice nurse and licensed social worker. It already offers hormone replacement therapy and other services for transgender patients at centers in Chicago and Champaign.

Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Julie Lynn says Planned Parenthood also hopes to expand services to other Central Illinois cities, like Bloomington, in September.

Kristen Haley says while it’s progress, there’s still more work to be done to improve access for transgender patients downstate. In Peoria, options for plastic surgeons and endocrinologists who specialize in transgender medicine are few or nonexistent.

“Hopefully this is an impetus for other healthcare providers in the area to get on board,” Haley said.

The Transgender Society hosts monthly discussions at the Public Library to connect people to resources and answer questions about transgender issues. Their next “TransLiving in the Heartland” event is Wed., July 13 at 7pm at the Peoria Public Library Lakeview branch.

Studies estimate that about o.5 percent of Illinois residents identify as transgender. A consistent, accurate number is difficult to pinpoint because the U.S. Census Bureau doesn't ask for gender identity in its data collection, aside from its two "male" or "female" options.