It can be a serious challenge for transgender patients to get access to the care they need. In response at least 26 Planned Parenthoods are offering hormone therapy and the number is growing.
Often doctors are not willing to prescribe drugs for hormone replacement therapy. There may not be many clinics available that do offer treatment in a given area, and doctors and staff may be judgmental or insensitive toward patients who have few options. Many clinics also require a letter from a patient’s therapist, which provides an additional barrier to needed care.
Planned Parenthood’s commitment to under-served communities is increasingly including transgender patients and access to hormone replacement therapy. This means patients seeking care have an option where they are respected and given treatment on an informed consent model. Access to informed, sensitive caregivers in a safe environment means that more people can get the care they need.
In Planned Parenthood, the LGBTQ community has a strong ally that isn’t afraid to offer help where help is needed. It’s particularly impressive given how much flack the organization already takes. This is old-school activism that’s willing to take risks in order to do what’s right, and I applaud them for it.
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