Brandon transgender health clinic shows demand for services

A clinic exclusively for transgender patients in Brandon is so busy, it's already booked up. And May 25 will be the second day it's open for business.

The clinic made its debut with appointments one day at the end of April and all five spots were booked then as well.

Rune Breckon, a facilitator with LGBTprogrammingin Brandon, says the main goal of the clinic, offered by the city's public health services, is to providenon-judgmental health professionals, educated about trans health, to a community that is often made to feel "abnormal," he said.

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Brandon's clinic is also meant to alleviate pressure on the province's only other trans healthclinic in Winnipeg, which experiences wait times for appointments of about a year.

"I've heard from a number of folks who travel all over western and northern Manitoba and southern Manitoba to get into Winnipeg to access Klinic's trans health program. And unfortunately that becomes really costly for a lot of folks and something that isn't really accessible,"Breckon said.

The new services will be especially useful for addressinghealth needs unique to the trans community,such ashormone therapy or sex reassignment surgeries, and having health professionals that are familiar withthe unique health risks associated with those services, Breckon said.

"The more specific care required is having a doctor or service provider that is not only affirming to our identities and our experiences but to know what happens to our bodies and with our bodies when we say, go on hormones."

What it all comes down to, is being treated with respect and being properly cared for, Breckontold CBC'sRadio Noon.

To make an appointment, call204-578-2513.