In a city where roughly 45% of residents rely on Medicaid for medical care, the queer community faces additional hurdles. The Williams Institute estimates that about 62,000 people in Cleveland identify as LGBTQ+, yet they encounter higher rates of stigma-related health disparities. Transgender patients, for example, report feeling unsafe in conventional clinics, a trend documented in the Annals of Family Medicine. This structural inequity fuels demand for resources that speak directly to the needs of queer individuals.
Why a dedicated directory matters
Traditional hospital listings, such as those from Cleveland Clinic or MetroHealth, tend to present broad networks without filtering for affordability or cultural competence. was launched earlier this year by the nonprofit Haus of Transcendent to fill that gap. CEO Jordi Luke (they/he, elle/el) explains that the site functions as “a one-stop shop for people who do not know what the link is to access the Medicaid portal and other critical government programs.” By aggregating clinics, therapists, and sexual-health providers who accept Medicaid, the directory eliminates the guesswork that many queer patients confront.
Key features and community impact
The platform incorporates a sliding-fee scale, uninsured-service listings, and a focus on Medicaid-eligible providers. During this year’s Cleveland Pride Parade, volunteers handed out QR codes that directed users straight to the searchable interface, demonstrating how outreach meets people where they gather for joy. Mental-health therapist Rachel Drotar, a specialist in sex and relationship counseling, notes that her queer and trans clients frequently cite “social discrimination, getting proper gender-affirming care, navigating the healthcare system” as top concerns. She adds, “Healthcare is either tied to your status within poverty or your job… and it’s a really difficult system to navigate around, especially if you have other coexisting barriers.”
Such barriers translate into long wait lists. Drotar observes, “With these barriers we saw a huge influx of clients and wait lists all of the time, which tells me that there aren’t enough resources.” The scarcity is felt even as national data reveal that 1.8 million LGBTQ+ adults rely primarily on Medicaid, a group twice as likely to depend on the program as non-LGBTQ+ peers. In Cleveland, the lack of localized, up-to-date information makes the digital directory a lifeline for many.
Collaboration and future ambitions
Haus of Transcendent leverages its seat on the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to stay apprised of policy shifts, even as federal funding constraints loom. Luke praises the region, stating, “I think (Greater Cleveland) is doing a great job with so many resource constraints.” The organization also received a grant from the Three Arches Foundation to hire a community health worker, widening its capacity to guide users through enrollment and referrals. Co-founder SlayIcon emphasizes cultural relevance, saying, “HOT is connecting with the community on dance floors, outside of bars, and through video games. When outreach and health-care directories meet people where they go to have fun, prevention stops feeling like a lecture and starts feeling like culture.”
Looking ahead, HOTHeal plans to launch a Medicaid case-management program that pairs queer-friendly navigators with clients, and to embed Medicaid-accepting therapists into its listings. A mobile app, already featuring a beta educational game, will streamline access further. Interested volunteers can sign up via the site; Medicaid and SNAP recipients may count their service hours toward required work obligations. As the directory continues to evolve, Luke envisions it becoming “a tool for people to more quickly access care, specifically around sexual health” with far-reaching potential for the Cleveland LGBTQ+ community.
