Unconditional support for Western New York’s LGBTQ+ community

This LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week, we want to remind our Western New York LGBTQ+ community that we’re here to support them with unconditionally affirming, culturally competent medical and supportive services.

We understand that right now, many LGBTQ+ folks are worried about their access to healthcare and to providers who understand their needs. Like we have since we opened our doors in 1983, Evergreen and our affiliates are dedicated to being a place where LGBTQ+ people can put these worries aside and come get medical care and supportive services in an affirming environment.

We’re trusted by the LGBTQ+ community to provide primary care, transgender and gender expansive care, mental health care, HIV care and prevention and more – read on to learn more about how we can support you.

Affirming care in an understanding environment

Our Primary and Specialty Care teams, and all the staff you’ll interact with when you come to Evergreen, are dedicated to making sure LGBTQ+ patients feel seen and respected throughout their visit.

Your provider will ask you for your preferred name and pronouns at your intake appointment and list these on your chart, so everyone you interact with will know what name and pronouns to use throughout your visit.

Our providers understand the needs of LGBTQ+ patients and are here to provide culturally competent care, whether you come in for a sick visit or to talk about starting your gender transition.

Transgender and gender expansive care

Our team of providers who specialize in medical care for transgender and gender expansive patients are here to support people at any stage in their transition.

We provide informed consent-based hormone replacement therapy for transgender and nonbinary patients, tailored to each individual’s transition goals. We can also refer you to gender affirming surgeons, trans-informed mental health care providers, affirming pelvic and gynecological care, and referrals to legal name and gender marker change help.

Mental health care for LGBTQ+ patients

People in the LGBTQ+ community come to our mental health providers for support with a wide variety of concerns. We provide culturally competent care and understand how intersecting issues like racial trauma, sexual or domestic violence, sex work and chronic health conditions can affect the mental health of LGBTQ+ folks.

Mental health care looks different for everyone, and our patients get support from a variety of services including one-on-one or group counseling, psychiatry, substance use services, supportive services, and connections to community and support through the Pride Center, MOCHA and more.

Sexual health care

Evergreen has been supporting the sexual health and wellness of people in the LGBTQ+ community since 1983. Our patients count on us to provide judgment-free and understanding sexual health care, including prevention, treatment and education.

STI, hepatitis C and HIV testing is easy, fast and accessible at Evergreen, and we specialize in Hepatitis C care and HIV care.

We’re Western New York’s leading provider of PrEP, the medication that when taken as prescribed greatly reduces a person’s chances of becoming HIV positive, a chronic illness that disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ community.

Services for people living with HIV

We provide a variety of supportive services that make sure our patients living with HIV have the help they need to focus on their health.

We can help qualified patients who are living with HIV with housing, transportation, nutrition, community support, and medication and treatment adherence support.

If you’re an Evergreen patient who’s living with HIV, our program YouPLUS: Positive Living, Unified Support is your one-stop-shop that lets you receive any of the included services without having to enroll in a new program or fill out more paperwork.

Community and support at MOCHA and the Pride Center of Western New York

MOCHA Buffalo is our program that empowers LGBTQ+ communities of color with a place to share community, learn about sexual health and get connected to health resources.

Follow MOCHA on social media or view their calendar to learn more about joining a group or visiting during drop-in hours.

The Pride Center, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, gives LGBTQ+ youth and families a place to share community, get connected to local resources, and get referrals to medical and supportive services.

Follow the Pride Center on social media or view their calendar to learn more about joining a group or visiting during drop-in hours.

If you’re an LGBTQ+ person living in Western New York who needs an affirming healthcare provider, get in touch to become a new patient — visit evergreenhs.org/new-patients or call 716.847.2441.