Gender-Affirming Healthcare Services in Nashville, Tennessee

At The Nashville CARES Clinic at My House, we offer health care for LGBTQ+ people that addresses the unique barriers faced by trans and gender-nonconforming adult clients, as well as medical, behavioral health and case management staff who are sensitive to their needs. Nearly half (47 percent) of trans adults say that the health care providers they've been in contact with “don't know much or “nothing” about providing health care to trans people. Only 10 percent say that the healthcare providers they've been in contact with know “a lot about caring for trans people.” About 4 in 10 trans adults (37 percent) say it's “somewhat or “very difficult” to find a healthcare provider who will treat them with dignity and respect; while about a quarter (24 percent) of cisgender adults say the same. Just over half (53 percent) of trans adults say it's easy to find health care they can afford, less than 63 percent of cisgender adults who say the same.

There are several clinics and healthcare providers in Nashville, Tennessee that specialize in gender-affirming healthcare services. These include the Veterans Administration Medical Center in York, Murfreesboro and associated clinics (in Kentucky, in Bowling Green and Hopkinsville) and (1 in Tennessee), in Nashville (, Athens, Chatanooga (, Clarksville (, Cookville, Dover, Gallatin, Columbia, McMinnville, Harriman and Arnold Air Force Base). Brooks was used to uncomfortable doctor visits, based on her experiences at the university, when university health services staff filled them with questions about birth control and sexual activity, assuming she was a cisgender heterosexual woman. Faithful said she could afford these services as a consultant for social justice organizations that receive health insurance through her partner's plan, while other black transgender people living in the poorest areas of the city have difficulty accessing basic care that affirms their gender.

Transgender Health at Connectus offers gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy, primary care, reproductive health and support while seeking gender confirmation surgery. The University of Texas Student Health Center doesn't subsidize hormones, but it provides guidance on how to pay for hormones. The Memphis VA Medical Center has (medical center) in Memphis (partner clinics) (in Arkansas), in West Helena and Jonesboro, (in Mississippi), in Holly Springs and Tupelo (in Tennessee), in Memphis (), Dyersburg, Jackson and Savannah. Children's Hospital (website) — Transgender Health Clinic and Pediatric Clinic for Transgender People, FB — Vanderbilt Health and Monroe Carell Jr.

VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans in Tennessee has (organizations), Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Mountain Home VA Healthcare System and Memphis VA Medical Center (websites: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Mountain Home VA Healthcare System and Memphis VA Medical Center, FB — U. As Republican state legislators mobilize to restrict access to gender-affirming care for children and, in some cases, adults, the survey provides a reminder of the basic difficulties faced by transgender adults in medical environments. Quillen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Mountain Home and (associated clinics) (in Virginia) in Bristol, Jonesville, Marion, Norton and Vasant and (in Tennessee) in LaFollette, Sevierville, Morristown, Rodgersville and Knoxville. The Transgender Health Clinic is an extension of the nationally recognized LGBTQ Health Program in Vanderbilt.

Dirkmaat, who identifies as transmale and non-binary, didn't have many health care options in his network of insurance providers when he lived in Nashville. Nashville is home to a variety of clinics and healthcare providers that specialize in gender-affirming healthcare services. These include the Veterans Administration Medical Center located throughout the state as well as private clinics such as Transgender Health at Connectus which offer hormone replacement therapy as well as primary care services. Additionally there are pediatric clinics such as Children's Hospital which provide specialized care for transgender youth.

For those who are unable to afford these services there are organizations such as VA Health Care for LGBTQ Veterans which provide access to free or low cost healthcare services for veterans. Additionally there are social justice organizations which provide health insurance plans which can be used to cover some of the costs associated with gender-affirming healthcare services. It is important to note that while there are many options available for those seeking gender-affirming healthcare services there are still many barriers faced by transgender individuals when accessing these services. These include lack of knowledge among healthcare providers regarding transgender health needs as well as difficulty finding affordable healthcare options.

Overall there are many options available for those seeking gender-affirming healthcare services in Nashville Tennessee. It is important to research all available options before making a decision on which clinic or provider is best suited for your needs.