Description (click to expand)
In building Dr. Rainbow, Covenant House travelled to every corner of the state to reach out to our LGBTQ community. Our resource guide is composed of the voices from our queer communities in Wheeling, Morgantown, Kingswood, Charleston, Huntington, Lewisburg, Fayetteville, Shepherdstown, and beyond. We participated at community events and visited queer spaces throughout the state asking our LGBTQ family to identify what healthcare providers they personally use who are LGBTQ culturally competent and affirming. In addition, we travelled across the state conducting cultural competency trainings for providers, and conducting outreach to providers interested in joining our movement. Along our journey to find healthcare providers we listened to the feedback of everyone who participated. We also created a general statewide resource guide to help reduce isolationism and link people to support systems throughout the state. Dr. Rainbow’s information is not based on algorithms, but on real West Virginians coming forward to highlight the wonderful healthcare providers and community resources who “welcome all kinds.” Dr. Rainbow can’t stop all stigma and discrimination. It won’t magically fix everything, but this is where we begin to rewrite our story. This is where we come together to take care of each other and help link each other to the best West Virginia has to offer, because it’s good to be queer in the mountain state.