Commonwealth Policy Center

Bowling Green opened its first LGBT clinic. According to Dr. Craig Losekamp, discrimination and mistreatment of those who identify as LGBT led him to open a clinic that would specifically meet the demands of LGBT patients. This new practice will offer gender-affirming care (more precisely gender transitioning services), HIV prevention, and what they call “LGBT specific mental health treatment.” Of course, nobody should be mistreated for any reason, but good medicine treats behaviors that undermine good health. LGBT people have higher rates of mental illness, sexually transmitted diseases, suicide, and infertility. Giving them their own clinic might provide some level of empathy, but good medicine will address underlying behaviors that lead to health problems. And it’s unclear whether the Bowling Green Clinic will address such behaviors.