The Clinic That Cried Safe

This personal perspective recounts the author’s experience seeking fertility preservation at a clinic advertised as LGBTQ+-friendly. Despite visible rainbow flags and claims of gender-affirming care, the clinic’s forms, staff, and language (e.g., misgendering, binary gender options) failed to align with its inclusive branding. The narrative highlights the dissonance between performative safety signals (e.g., stickers, slogans) and the reality of navigating healthcare as a queer and trans individual. The author reflects on the erosion of trust when institutions "cry safe" without addressing systemic barriers, underscoring the need for genuine inclusivity in medical spaces.

This personal perspective recounts the author’s experience seeking fertility preservation at a clinic advertised as LGBTQ+-friendly. Despite visible rainbow flags and claims of gender-affirming care, the clinic’s forms, staff, and language (e.g., misgendering, binary gender options) failed to align with its inclusive branding. The narrative highlights the dissonance between performative safety signals (e.g., stickers, slogans) and the reality of navigating healthcare as a queer and trans individual. The author reflects on the erosion of trust when institutions "cry safe" without addressing systemic barriers, underscoring the need for genuine inclusivity in medical spaces.