Tucson Trans Community Holds Public Hormone Injection Event

Participants challenge stigma and political attacks on gender-affirming care.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:21pm

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In a public show of solidarity, people who take injectable hormone medication gathered on the steps of Tucson City Hall to take their shots together during the third annual Trans Day of Visibility Public Hormone Jab event. The event was meant to demystify hormone treatment and raise awareness as state and federal lawmakers continue to restrict access to gender-affirming care.

Why it matters

The event comes amid growing political attacks on transgender rights, including bans on gender-affirming care for youth and efforts to eliminate such care for consenting adults. By publicly taking their prescribed hormones, participants aimed to challenge the stigma around transgender healthcare and show support for their community.

The details

The Public Hormone Jab event was first held during a Transgender Day of Visibility march in Tucson in 2023, welcoming anyone who uses hormones in any form. Participants formed a circle around those receiving injections as a show of support. The event's anonymous organizer said the goal is to correct widespread misunderstandings about hormone use, which affects all people, not just transgender individuals.

  • The Public Hormone Jab event has been held annually on Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31) since 2023.
  • This year's event took place on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting states' ability to ban conversion therapy.

The players

Noah Defino

A transgender man who received a testosterone injection administered by his partner during the event.

Sean Bottai

Defino's partner, who administered his testosterone injection during the gathering.

The event organizer

An anonymous individual who started the Public Hormone Jab event in 2023 after seeing a similar event posted on the queer social platform Lex.

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What they’re saying

“It feels important to show up publicly and to be seen for who you are as a way of supporting other people. It feels good to demystify what being trans is and share my life experiences so that people can understand and be more accepting.”

— Noah Defino, Transgender man

“Once those freedoms and rights start to erode for one population, all populations will end up losing freedoms and protections.”

— Sean Bottai, Partner of Noah Defino

“Taking hormones should be a mundane practice, and nobody should be paying attention to each other's needs around it. But since so many people care and get in trans people's business about it, I'll give a show.”

— The event organizer

What’s next

The event's organizer said they hope to continue holding the Public Hormone Jab annually to raise awareness and show solidarity with the transgender community as political attacks on gender-affirming care persist.

The takeaway

This event highlights the growing need to destigmatize hormone therapy and support the transgender community in the face of escalating political attacks on their right to access essential healthcare.