Services for the LGBTQ+ Community


Message from Mark Doyle, President and CEO

Mark Doyle

"During the month of June, our nation celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month. This celebration of diversity has its roots in the Stonewall riots of 1969. During that weekend, patrons of the Stonewall Inn protested and rioted against the raids that were commonplace in New York City at LGBTQ bars. This is credited as a sentinel event in the pursuit of equality for LGBTQ people both in the United States and internationally. 

We at Holy Cross Health and Trinity Health celebrate and honor our LGBTQ colleagues, patients, families, allies, donors, and community members."

Visit our blog to see the full CEO message and statement issued by Trinity Health’s Mission Executive Council.

Be Inclusive. Be Remarkable. Meet LGBTQ+ Health Needs.

A number of health disparities* exist in the LGBTQ+ community that Holy Cross Health works to address.

Did you know?

  • Gay men are at higher risk of HIV and other STIs, especially among communities of color
  • Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer 
  • Bisexual adults are more likely than heterosexual adults to have general medical problems like high cholesterol and asthma, as well as elevated rates of smoking and alcohol use, which can heighten the risk of other health problems
  • Lesbians and bisexual females are more likely to be overweight
  • Transgender individuals have a high prevalence of HIV/STIs,  victimization,  mental health issues and suicide, and are less likely to have health insurance than heterosexual or LGB individuals
  • LGBTQ+ populations have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use
  • Florida is among the leading states with confirmed Mpox cases
    For information on Mpox, read CDC guidance, see the Sun Sentinel article featuring Holy Cross' Dr. Margaret Gorensek or visit our Mpox health library.

*Source: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Learn more with the following LGBTQ+ resources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health  provides perspectives and needs of LGBT people that should be routinely considered in public health efforts to improve the overall health of every person and eliminate health disparities. Information and statistics about health issues including sexually transmitted diseases, violence prevention, and adolescent and school health are accessable.
  • GLBT National Hotline provides a safe space for callers to speak confidentially with peers about issues and concerns including coming out issues, gender and/or sexuality identities, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer sex information, suicide and more.
  • National LGBT Health Education Center provides educational programs, resources and consultation to healthcare organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective healthcare for LGBTQIA individuals.
  • PFLAG is the largest organization uniting parents, families, and allies with LGBTQ persons. PFLAG is a grassroots network committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued and affirmed.
  • The Human Rights Campaign focuses on three pillars of action to end discrimination and fight for change: mobilizing equality voters, educating the public about LGBTQ issues and advancing pro-equality policy and litigation.
  • The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ people under 25.
  • SunServe recognizes that the entire LGBTQ community has the right to quality care, and their mission is to provide critical life assistance and professional mental health services to youth, adults, and seniors.
  • The Pride Center at Equality Park provides a welcoming, safe space - an inclusive home that celebrates, nurtures and empowers the LGBTQ+ communities and friends and neighbors in South Florida.
  • TransSOCIAL is a Trans-led non-profit that works to expand safe and affirming resources for the TLGBQ+ community. Direct services include name and gender marker change assistance, affirming medical and mental health referrals, peer support groups and cultural sensitivity training.

 

Holy Cross Health offers the following services to address LGBTQ+ health disparities:

HIV/AIDS, PrEP, and Infectious Disease

See below: Specialty care through our Primary Care and Infectious Disease practices

Learn more >

Comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Services

Access to clinicians, nutritionists and support groups, taking an all-around approach to weight loss and maintenance

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HIV Self-Testing Program

HIV Self-Testing through a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation grant

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COVID Vaccines

Vaccines available for infants, children and adults

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Inpatient Detox

Medical stabilization for adults with drug, alcohol or related health issues

Learn more >

Lung Cancer Screening

Low dose lung screenings to those who qualify

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Smoking Cessation

Partnering with TobaccoFree Florida to promote smoking cessation

Learn more >

Award-Winning Healthcare

Access to our full spectrum of award-winning health care services including Orthopedics, Cardiology, Neurology, Pulmonary

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Partners in Breast Health

Free mammograms for women in financial need

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Community Assistance Program

Enrollment assistance for medical insurance programs

Learn more >

Diabetes Prevention

Prevention, Self-Management and Education Lifestyle change program promotes health and well-being

Learn more >

Community Education

Request a speaker for your next health event

Learn more >

Points of Interest

Inclusive Care

Holy Cross Health has an LGBTQ+ and trans inclusive policy for providing care

Health Resources

Visit our health library for articles, quizzes and more

Transgender Care

Community resources include:

University of Miami

Jackson Health Org

As a Catholic faith-based healthcare provider, we follow the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, which prohibit certain surgeries for transgender care.

S.P.I.R.I.T at Holy Cross Health

S.P.I.R.I.T = Showing Pride, Inclusiveness, Respect & Integrity at Trinity Health seeks to promote visibility and awareness of the LGBTQ+ community within Trinity Health and serves as an internal advisory committee focused on LGBTQ+ patient care issues.
 

PATH team members

Important Information About Transgender Health Care at Holy Cross Health

At Holy Cross Health our goal is to deliver compassionate, high-quality, and affordable health services to all, including transgender patients and their families, offering a wide range of transgender health care at our inpatient and outpatient facilities. Guided by robust policies, Holy Cross Health prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression and calls on all employees to provide unbiased, respectful, sensitive care to transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive patients and their families. Our network of care includes but is not limited to, offerings such as hormone therapy, mastectomy, breast augmentation,* orchiectomy, and hysterectomy.

When a service is not available at our location, care is transitioned to a provider within reasonable driving distance that offers the desired service. For example, providers are made aware that some sterilizing procedures, including some surgeries, are not performed at our facility, and in these instances, providers transition a patient’s care to other providers within a reasonable distance, including (see list below).

We welcome inquiries from patients and providers about the wide range of transgender health care available at our facilities. We are deeply committed to providing high-quality, supportive, welcoming care, regardless of gender identity or expression.

**As a general principle, our Catholic facility does not perform sterilizing hysterectomies and orchiectomies on any patient regardless of gender identity or expression and cannot provide “top” surgery for transgender persons “at this time.