In recent months, a troubling pattern has emerged across healthcare institutions—many local health organizations have quietly removed LGBTQ+ health offerings from their websites, while national corporations scale back or eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These shifts signal a dangerous regression, one that directly impacts the well-being of gender expansive individuals who rely on gender-affirming care for part of their mental and physical health.
At Love The Golden Rule, we believe that healthcare should be rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and evidence-based medicine. Gender-affirming care is not a political debate—it is a necessity.
The Science is Clear: Gender-Affirming Care Saves Lives
The medical consensus is overwhelming: gender-affirming care significantly improves mental health outcomes for transgender individuals. Studies published by organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirm that access to hormone therapy, affirming counseling, and gender-affirming surgeries reduce depression, anxiety, and suicide risk among transgender patients.
- A 2021 study in JAMA Network Open found that transgender youth who receive puberty blockers or hormone therapy have a 73% lower risk of suicidal ideation compared to those who do not receive care.
- The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health revealed that 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth who receive gender-affirming care report experiencing less severe depression.
- Research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology shows that gender-affirming hormone therapy is associated with lower rates of psychological distress in adults.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, barriers to care are growing.
When local nonprofits and public resources erase LGBTQ+ services from their websites and offerings, it creates uncertainty and fear for patients who are already navigating a hostile political climate.
Real World Impact: What Happens When Care is Denied?
Without access to gender-affirming healthcare, transgender individuals face devastating consequences, including:
- Higher suicide rates: According to the U.S. Transgender Survey, nearly 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide, with the vast majority citing lack of access to affirming care as a major factor.
- Increased homelessness and economic instability: The National Center for Transgender Equality reports that one in five transgender people has experienced homelessness due to discrimination, often linked to a lack of access to safe, affirming healthcare.
- Worsening physical health: Gender-affirming care is not just about mental well-being—it also encompasses routine health screenings, reproductive care, and HIV prevention. Many transgender individuals avoid medical care altogether when they fear discrimination, putting them at greater risk for untreated illnesses.
Healthcare as a Path to Complete Wellness
At Love The Golden Rule, our team embodies the very essence of our goals; to treat others how we ourselves would want to be treated. Our care team captures this vision every day, dedicated to the importance of upholding diversity and inclusion in day-to-day care.
At the heart of the team is Dr. Bob Wallace, our founder. Along with Spencer Rizk, DNP and Jennifer Fodsick, ARPN, they form a powerful team rooted in empathy, lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to providing safe, affirming healthcare for all.
Dr. Bob Wallace’s journey into LGBTQ+ healthcare began decades ago, long before it was widely accepted—or even acknowledged. Throughout 40 years working in the medical field as an out and proud doctor, Dr. Bob has been a vital voice in the journey on HIV research and eradication, attending nearly every national HIV conference each year and speaking in multiple publications. To Dr. Bob, his work is more than a profession— it’s a promise we maintain to our patients; Always be happy and help others.
“I know what it feels like to be erased,” Dr. Wallace says. “To feel like you or someone you love doesn’t count in the system. That’s why I built Love The Golden Rule—to be the place where everyone counts.”
