Particularly within large institutions, finding a provider who is knowledgeable about the specific health needs of queer people can be overwhelming and frustrating at times. So when you set out to find an LGBTQ-Affirming provider that feels like a good fit for you, often the first step can be to determine where you fall on the spectrum of need of affirmation. Would you be okay in an environment where the doctor is an ally whose patients can discuss their health openly without fear of judgment? Would you prefer someone who specializes in LGBTQ+ healthcare, or in the specific mental or physical conditions you are facing? Would it make a difference to you if they had lived through those experiences themselves?

Questions to ask a healthcare professional 

• How do you ensure your practice is LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming?
• Do you have experience caring for transgender and nonbinary patients?
• Is your staff trained in LGBTQ+ cultural competency and communication?
• What would you do if you weren’t familiar or educated on something regarding my identity, gender experience, or health?
• How do you handle issues related to gender identity, chosen names, or pronouns in medical records?
• Are you knowledgeable about preventive care and screenings relevant to LGBTQ+ individuals (e.g., PrEP, hormone therapy, fertility options)?
• Do you work with or refer to specialists who have experience with LGBTQ+ health concerns?
• What steps do you take to ensure patient confidentiality, especially around sexual orientation or gender identity?

Methodology

We recognize that this list is by no means comprehensive. We compiled this collection of providers by asking medical, mental health, and other wellness professionals who self-identify as LGBTQ-affirming to fill out our online form. We solicited responses via direct one-to-one outreach as well as calls for entries in our weekly newsletter and on our social media pages. If you are an LGBTQ-affirming provider, or know of other providers who are not listed here, please encourage them to fill out our form so they can be listed next year!

We also recognize that due to our data collection methods, and because large institutions and small private practices handle public relations concerns differently, our first attempt at a list highly favors private practice mental health providers. Institutions, while they may take many steps to ensure affirming practices and employ providers who are actively LGBTQ-affirming, have more barriers that may prevent them from participating.

This list also does not include any insurance companies.

Health Centers
Direct Primary Care
Hospital-Affiliated Primary Care
Chiropractic
Message Therapy
Physical Therapy
Other Specialties
Mental Health
Out of State

About Voice – Speech Therapy Services | Ami Bouterse (she/her) | 4235 Green Bay Rd., Kenosha | I provide expansive voice care to support authentic communication with specialized training and experience serving clients across the gender spectrum. As a WI-licensed SLP and singing voice specialist, I offer in-person services in Kenosha (in Bodywise Ste.s) or online anywhere in Wisconsin.

Aurora Sinai Medical Center | Dr. Marie Forgie (she/her) | 945 N. 12th St., Milwaukee | OB/GYN providing LGBTQ- and gender-affirming care including preventative, cervical cancer screening, gender affirming hysterectomy, contraception including tubal ligations, and family planning. Member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital | Brady Bunkelman (he/they) | Virtual | I am a cancer genetic counselor, specializing in talking with patients about their personal and/or family history of cancer and how it might impact them. I discuss screening options and help coordinate genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes to better individualize care.