LGBTQ-Friendly Health and Wellness Resources in Seattle – Seattle Met
the spate of anti-LGBTQ legislation and edicts in other states is enough to prompt an emotional gut checkâor at the very least, it’s a sobering reminder that those in the community face discrimination for doing something as simple as seeing their doctor. It also elicits an extra dose of gratefulness for the gender-affirming, queer-friendly health care options and businesses we do have in King County and Seattle.Â
Herein a list of local health orgs offering stigma-free services specifically for Seattle’s queer community. This list is by no means exhaustive and should be viewed as just one of many resources to consult when finding the best care.
Do you know of a health or wellness organization that should be on this list? Let us know at [email protected]
Capitol Hill Medical
A queer-focused medical clinic, where the goal is to help patients feel “safe, celebrated, and healthy.” Two of the four providers have been named to Seattle Met’s list of Top Doctors.
Cedar River Clinics
With locations in Seattle, Renton, Tacoma, and Yakima, Cedar River offers a variety of general wellness services as well as hormone therapy and surgery referrals for gender-affirming care.
Country Doctor Community Health Centers
Over 50 years ago, volunteer doctors and medical residents founded two clinics for Seattle’s most vulnerable populations. Today they’re part of the Country Doctor network, serving patients of every gender expression and sexual orientation, regardless of their ability to pay.
Entre Hermanos
A nonprofit that started as an advocacy group promoting culturally appropriate health services for the Latino LGBTQ community. Today its focus on disease prevention includes free HIV/STD testing, condom distribution, and PrEP education.
Gay City Wellness Center
The health services arm of this Seattle LGBTQ center provides confidential HIV and STI testing, health insurance access, and PrEP.
Hall Health at UW
Gender-affirming care at this University of Washington health clinic runs from standard primary care services (prostate, pelvic, breast exams) to counseling to hormone replacement therapy.Â
Ingersoll Gender Center
Ingersoll is a stalwart in the transgender and gender nonconforming community. Though it doesn’t provide health services, it does have a robust database of local medical professionals who offer gender-affirming care.
Lifelong
Once a volunteer-led effort to help those living with HIV, this nonprofit now runs everything from a food program to emergency housing to sexual health services for those affected by the disease.
Neighborcare Health
AÂ group of 30-plus medical, dental, and mental health care clinics with gender-affirming services for transgender and gender nonconforming patients.
Peer Seattle
Part social support, part wellness services, Peer Seattle helps those in the LGBTQ community impacted by HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, or addiction with support groups, housing services, employment programs, and free HIV testing.
People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN)
The organization started in 1987 to serve marginalized communities affected by HIV and AIDS. It’s since grown to include programs for trans empowerment, homelessness prevention, incarcerated individuals, and those with an addiction. Today the POCAAN clinic offers HIV/STI testing and PrEP/PEP services.
Planned Parenthood
Its dozens of local clinics provide the gamut of services way beyond abortions, including general health care, HIV/STD testing, and hormone therapy.
Refuge Restrooms
A user-submitted database of safe restrooms for transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex individuals.Â
Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic
This clinic is specifically for youth and young adults who don’t identify with the traditional definitions of male or female, or whose gender identity is different from the one assigned at birth.Â
Seattle Counseling Service
Founded in 1969, this behavioral health organization provides counseling services for coming out, gender identity, anxiety or depression around microaggressions and discrimination, and other queer-specific issues.Â
We Are 1
Consider it the King, Snohomish, and Pierce County health agency umbrella for gay, bi, trans, and straight men. Included are resources for all facets of well-being: health insurance, exercise, sex, addiction, and mental health.