by Isabella Knoth
I first learned about the Kind Clinic in 2017, soon after they opened their first stand-alone office in town, while I was trying to find a better doctor to oversee my partner’s hormone therapy. We were tired of the overt staring in waiting rooms and trying to educate his doctors on affirmative care while biting our tongues. During the first appointment at Kind, we were greeted by a room full of queer folks like us, pronoun nametags were standard, and my partner had his first positive, even enjoyable, healthcare experience in years. I was in love.
The philosophy behind the Kind Clinic, which is operated by the non-profit Texas Health Action, is that if you create an environment where people are comfortable to be themselves, they are more likely to ask for what they need. Offices reflect the communities they serve, and pride regalia decorates walls and offices alongside colorful murals. The clinic began in a borrowed space as an office offering PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis, a daily pill that reduced HIV transmission 99%). It has since expanded to three full-service clinics in Austin and San Antonio, with a fourth office opening later this year, and now offers both PrEP and PEP (Pre- and Post-exposure prophylaxis), STD and HIV testing and treatment, and gender affirming care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Patient advocates connect patients with community resources, support groups, and assistance with prescription costs. The Kind Clinic also holds outreach events in high-need areas, on college campuses, and during community events, offering pop-up STD testing as well as sex education, and continuously produces informative, sex-positive content on social media.
When I first learned the Kind Clinic had available internships, I was elated. In school, I focused most of my research on pregnancy and birth practices, but reports on mistreatment of the queer community and racial disparities in health care were pervasive. The Kind Clinic could be a place for me to expand my love of patient-centered, inclusive healthcare in a new direction that was still close to my heart. During my internship, I organized the outreach office and its supplies, and I was introduced to electronic medical records where I helped with data entry and consolidation. I spent my little downtime assembling Pleasure Packs, tiny kits that include condoms, lubricant, a personal vibrator, and dental dam, as well as information on clinic services, that we handed out by the dozens at outreach events. As time passed, I began aiding outreach clinics by checking in patients, and had the opportunity to shadow clinic workers to learn about day-to-day activities. I was also invited to help with the International Women’s Day event put on by Frida Friday ATX, where Kind Clinic set up a mobile lab and offered STD testing and sex education for patrons of the marketplace. Working in the office exposed me to the huge variety of roles required to run Kind, from the COO and CFO of Texas Health Action, to the medical assistants, social workers, and nurse practitioners on the ground.
The biggest lesson from my time at the Kind Clinic was realizing that I did not have to choose between being openly queer and being perceived as professional, and that my passion for activism and inclusion can coexist with providing excellent, evidence-based care. Respectful, affirmative healthcare is not only possible, but crucial to the well-being of historically mistreated populations.
The motto of the Kind Clinic should be the standard at every health clinic, but the message is especially welcoming at offices that serve marginalized communities:
You be you, and we’ll be kind.
Hey y’all! My name is Isabella Knoth (she/her) and I am a 24-year-old graduating senior originally from Orange County, California. My partner Derek and our family have lived in Austin for almost 7 years now. I love hiking and camping, and I have visited over 20 Texas State Parks, including six months spent as an ambassador to Inks Lake SP. I am passionate about sexual and reproductive healthcare and spend my time outside of class working as a birth and post-partum doula or volunteering in abortion-rights activism.
At the University of Texas, I have pursued degrees in Health & Society, Women’s & Gender Studies, and a certificate in LGBTQ+ studies. My coursework has largely focused on the socio-demographic, cultural, and political contexts that influence health behaviors and access, and on the history and anthropology of health and illness pertaining to women, people of color, the queer population, and other minorities. My plan is to continue to grad school and train as a nurse-midwife to provide inclusive, holistic health practices for every body.
