In 2012, when the city got its first Gender Reassignment Clinic at Kolkilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri, Dr Dheeraj Kapoor, consulting endocrinologist, was one of the key people involved in setting it up along with Dr Sanjay Pandey, consulting uro-andrologist. Although he has treated over 400 members from the trans community since, Dr Kapoor has never gone to the extent of advertising himself as a queer-friendly doctor. Yet, for many transmen, transwomen and those identifying as intersex, Dr Kapoor has become their go-to health professional. "I think it happened by chance," says Dr Kapoor, squeezing time in between his consultations to speak to us. "In 2010, when I began practice in Mumbai, I happened to have a transgender patient at my clinic. He was happy with the treatment, and later recommended my name to others who wanted to transition," he says. The word gradually spread in the community, and if he would receive one patient a month then, it's two a week now.

Acceptance is key

In an ideal world, a queer patient wouldn't need to seek out a queer-friendly doctor, because it's a healthcare professional's responsibility to provide affordable, accessible and non-biased care. But the world is flawed and the burden of finding the right doctor often rests on members of marginalised communities. Which is why trusted health professionals are doubling up as "allies" in their attempts to create safe spaces where queer persons can seek medical treatment free from prejudice and assumption.