In New York City, where community and culture collide in countless ways, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center has long stood as a beacon of affirming, accessible care. For decades, they have been dedicated to serving LGBTQIA+ communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, and anyone who has been historically excluded or marginalized in traditional healthcare settings.

What Callen-Lorde Offers

Callen-Lorde provides a full spectrum of services designed to meet people where they are:

• Primary & Preventive Care – Inclusive medical services for individuals of all genders, sexualities, and backgrounds.
• Gender-Affirming Care – Hormone therapy, transition-related healthcare, and affirming providers who understand the unique needs of trans and non-binary people.
• Sexual Health Services – HIV and STI testing, PrEP and PEP access, treatment, and ongoing support.
• Mental Health & Wellness – Counseling, psychiatric services, and trauma-informed care tailored for queer and trans communities.
• Youth Programs – The Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT) program provides medical and mental health services to LGBTQIA+ and homeless youth, creating a lifeline for those who need it most.

Why Callen-Lorde Matters for Consent Culture

Consent is about more than just relationships and intimacy — it’s about the right to access care without shame, stigma, or fear. Callen-Lorde embodies that principle by creating a healthcare environment where patients can speak openly about their bodies, their desires, and their identities.

When healthcare providers affirm your whole self, you’re better able to practice consent everywhere else in life — from negotiating safer sex to navigating non-monogamy, kink, or simply being authentic in your relationships.

A Legacy of Activism

Callen-Lorde’s roots run deep. They emerged from the grassroots LGBTQIA+ healthcare movements of the 1960s and 1970s, building on the work of the St. Mark’s Community Clinic and the Callen-Lorde Clinic. Their legacy is one of activism and care — making them not just a clinic, but a vital part of queer history.

Learn More & Support

You can learn more about Callen-Lorde’s programs, donate, or get involved by visiting callen-lorde.org. Supporting organizations like Callen-Lorde helps ensure that healthcare remains a space of dignity, consent, and pride.

Related reading

These pieces continue the same thread around HIV, HPV, HSV, and disclosure.

• GMHC: A Legacy of Care, Advocacy, and Community
• HIV in Polycules: PrEP, PEP, U=U, Testing Cadence, and Consent-Based Communication
• Housing Works: Fighting HIV/AIDS and Homelessness with Radical Compassion