May 7, 2024
Trillium Health one of only 384 healthcare facilities nationwide earning the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation
May 7, 2024 (Rochester, NY) - Trillium Health is proud to announce it has again received the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 16th iteration of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), which was released today. A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 384 received the top score of 100, earning the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.
The designation follows a rigorous evaluation process that reviews a healthcare facility’s commitment to offering LGBTQ+ inclusive care for its LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and employees. Categories include patient services and supports, staff training programs, staff benefits, and community engagement.
In addition to providing specialized HIV care, Trillium Health offers many other healthcare services for the LGBTQ+ community, including primary care; care management (food, housing, transportation); HIV & STI testing; HIV prevention services – including pre and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP & PEP); as well as support groups and educational programs.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized at the national level for our unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and for offering the very best care to everyone – regardless of their background or ability to pay,” said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, President and CEO of Trillium Health. “It is a testament to the incredible work being done every single day by our dedicated employees, many of whom are members of the LGBTQ+ community or strong allies. Trillium Health was founded as an HIV clinic in the early days of the AIDS crisis, and serving the LGBTQ+ community will always be a part of our mission.”
This year’s HEI designation comes as LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to be “treated unfairly or with disrespect by a doctor or healthcare provider” in the last three years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation combined with a history of discrimination in healthcare settings has the potential to cause even more LGBTQ+ people to delay or avoid seeking healthcare, which makes the HEI even more critical for those looking to find LGBTQ+-inclusive care.
About Trillium Health
Trillium Health is a community health center dedicated to providing extraordinary care to individuals regardless of their ability to pay. With its holistic approach to healthcare, Trillium Health has a team of dedicated professionals – including physicians, nurses, care managers, and pharmacists – who work together to ensure that each patient receives the comprehensive and compassionate care they deserve. Trillium Health is proud to serve everyone who walks through their doors – regardless of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or ethnicity. For more information, please visit trilliumhealth.org.
About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.