Gender Health Center
Why the Gender Health Center?
In 2013 the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health completed a county-wide LGBT Health Assessment Survey. The survey revealed that transgender, gender non-binary, and gender expansive (TGNB/GE) people in the County face deep economic and health disparities. Despite a high need for services, 38% of TGNB/GE people were unable to access needed medical care and 28% had experienced healthcare discrimination. Community partners reported TGNB people were leaving the County to have their healthcare needs met.
In response to this gap in care for TGNB/GE people, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) in partnership the County of Santa Clara Office of LGBTQ Affairs proposed the creation of the first all-ages clinic specializing in services for TGNB/GE patients in the South Bay. In November 2018, that proposal became a reality and the SCVMC Gender Health Center was born!