Everyone should be allowed to be their true, authentic selves. 

But it’s difficult to do so when you are not given the right accessibility. 

The World Health Organization defines gender-affirmative health care as “any single or combination of a number of social, psychological, behavioral or medical (including hormonal treatment or surgery) interventions designed to support an individual’s gender identity.”

USF once had the Haven Clinic, a place where LGBTQ+ students could receive healthcare confidentially. It provided services from STI testing, gender-affirming care, immunizations and other critical services — but a good portion of these services were shut down in 2023.

USF spokesperson Althea Johnson said a Florida law passed in May 2023 preventing state universities’ medical centers from administering gender-affirming care. 

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Florida’s Senate Bill 254 prohibits state universities from using state funds for gender-affirming procedures, as well as banning gender-affirming treatment for minors.   

Johnson said the Haven Clinic remained operational, providing other services, until it was determined the services were the same as what was offered at the Student Health and Wellness Center.

It’s imperative to bring back the Haven Clinic to maximize LGBTQ+ students’ access to confidential healthcare.

“By closing local clinics providing transgender care, we limit the access this already vulnerable population has to basic medical care,” said Dan O’Shea, a local OB-GYN providing care to transgender patients.

In 2023, 60% of 28,0000 LGBTQ+ people from ages 13 to 24 reported feelings of discrimination in the past year due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People.

The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization known for its suicide prevention advocacy in the LGBTQ+ community.

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It can be hard to disclose one’s sexual history and gender preference in an environment that doesn’t feel super welcoming, which can prevent LGBTQ+ students from receiving the proper healthcare needed.

LGBTQ+ students should be able to receive the care they need confidentially, without fear of being stigmatized.

“Many patients may be hesitant to see their regular doctor and follow up with basic health maintenance if they are concerned of stigma or ignorance,” O’Shea said. 

But members of the LGBTQ+ community face a lot more than just discrimination from the outside world. They also face other obstacles.

In a 2023 survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that LGBTQ+ people are at risk for poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, violence and sexually transmitted infection.

Without better accessibility to the services that Haven Clinic once provided, they are at risk of more physical and mental health issues. 

“Gender affirming care is lifesaving care,” O’Shea said. “There is a 40% attempted suicide rate in transgender patients prior to receiving transgender care.”

Gender-affirming care is also important as it allows for people to feel comfortable in their own skin. 

Related: Trans students fear new USF bathroom rule: ‘Treated as a whole different species’

“There is also a quality-of-life issue,” O’Shea said. “There are no qualms with me treating the many women I see for bleeding and pain that affects their quality of life, but patients who suffer from gender dysphoria are not given the same consideration.”

We shouldn’t make healthcare harder to access for anyone, especially not for a community that’s struggling.