Trans Inclusion - Our Commitment to Trans Communities

How We Began

CWHC grew out of a recognition of gender oppression. When we began in the 1970s, women had little access to information about their bodies and faced rampant surgical and sexual abuses within the medical institution and medicine was almost entirely controlled by men and male doctors. CWHC adopted the assumptions of the feminist movement of that time, which was largely based on the fixed binary of male and female. A person was either/or and there was no in-between. Men oppressed women and women were oppressed by men. Men were born men and stayed that way. And women were "women born women." CWHC began with the mission to provide sensitive, compassionate, and affordable care that addressed the health care barriers faced by women. Since that time, CWHC has also provided a safe space for lesbian, bisexual and queer-identified women faced with the deeply entrenched heterosexism and homophobia of the medical establishment.

What We're Doing Now

Our cultural understanding of sex and gender has transformed since the 1970s. While gender has always been more complicated than we've been lead to believe, there is now language that addresses a broader spectrum of gender variance. Now, trans communities are faced with a set of familiar yet new challenges with regards to health care access.

CWHC is committed to breaking down assumptions about gender and sex. We are committed to offering affordable, respectful, accessible health care and education to the Chicago and vicinity trans communities. As we explore the ways that we can serve trans communities, we are careful to recognize our strengths and limitations.

While we have been serving members of trans communities for years, we are currently working to educate our staff and volunteers to provide more knowledgeable, sensitive care to trans people. Throughout this learning process, we welcome trans people to utilize our services and we would be grateful for any feedback you can offer us.