LGBTQ+ Health

We know that visiting a health care provider can be stressful for anyone; but for some, that feeling can be magnified due to fear of being unacknowledged, misunderstood, or not respected. Health & Counseling Center (HCC) clinicians are committed to providing our LGBTQ+ students, like all students, with the highest quality care in a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential environment, using evidence-based, industry best practices. We continue to educate our staff and to improve our systems and communications to better welcome, understand, and serve all students.

Across the HCC, our commitments include:

Engaging you as you

By default, your name will appear in our system as it does in your official DU record. If you’d like us to update your HCC health record to reflect the name and pronouns you use, you can notify us. Once your electronic health record is updated, that name and pronouns will be used in all future HCC communications and visits.

Due to various software systems in use campus-wide, we cannot yet guarantee that every DU communication will reflect your choices. More information, including how to update personal details in your official, central DU record, is available from the Registrar.

Where relevant, we will ask about, rather than presume, your sexual behavior (if any), partner(s), relationships status, etc, so that we can focus on your specific situation and needs.

Welcoming spaces

All clinical locations have at least one single occupant, accessible and all-gender restroom available. Safer sex supplies are available for free, in discreet packaging.

Confidentiality

All HCC services are confidential by law. This means that our providers are not permitted to disclose your gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other details (including whether or not you’ve even used services) without your express written consent. See Patient Rights for details.

Counseling Services

College in general can be a significant time to explore your values and identity. It is not uncommon for students to question, explore, and embrace their sexual, romantic, and gender identities as a part of that experience.

Identifying your gender identity or sexual orientation as anything other than cisgender or heterosexual does not mean you are mentally ill or need counseling. Often, LGBTQ+ individuals seek counseling due to negative external reactions from others, which contribute to marginalization and discrimination. Sometimes these attacks become internalized and result in feelings of isolation, guilt, fear, loneliness, and anger.

Counseling can specifically address issues related to your gender/sexual identity such as coming out, transitioning, dating/sex, marginalization, the impact of an intersex identity, exploring polyamory, discovering you are asexual, and/or the intersection of these identities with others you hold. It can also provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals to address unrelated mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, grief, ADHD, etc).

Beyond individual and couples/relationship counseling, we also offer a confidential LGBTQ+ support group for those seeking peer support around these identities, that meets weekly each quarter.

More About Counseling Services

Medical Services

The HCC is proud to provide supportive services designed to meet the unique needs of our trans and gender non-conforming students. Beyond the all-HCC commitments above, we can offer consultations, individualized check-ups, basic endocrinological care, insurance-required documentation, and referrals to outside providers with wider scopes of practice. (We do not have facilities for surgical procedures of any kind.)

Our providers refer to the following resources in Denver when needed:

Insurance Considerations

Most major, non-federal, US insurance carriers cover gender-affirming care; and Colorado state law requires its coverage in commercially available plans. As details vary by company and plan, students should check with their insurer for what is covered, any specific processes needed or other requirements, costs and fees, etc.

If you are covered by the DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), we suggest scheduling a consultation with an HCC medical provider to review what services you are seeking, what we offer in-house, possible outside providers, and the process for SHIP coverage. Detailed information regarding relevant SHIP benefits and limitations can be found here (PDF). Please email insurance@hcc.du.edu or call the HCC at 303-871-2205 with any questions.

For Survivors of Sexual Misconduct

Separately from our medical and counseling services, CAPE offer supportive, confidential care to survivors who have experienced sexual misconduct of any kind.

Medical Forensic Exams

After experiencing a sexual assault, you may choose to have a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) perform a Medical Forensic Exam (MFE) within five days. This will not require you to formally report the assault or participate in any law enforcement investigation.

Learn More

Survivor Advocacy & Healing - CAPE

The Center for Advocacy, Prevention, & Empowerment (CAPE) supports healing by providing advocacy and support to survivors of sexual assault, gender or relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment.