The Shutdown of LGBTQ+ Mitr Clinics in India: A Blow to Transgender Healthcare

Mar 34 min read

In a shocking and deeply concerning move, LGBTQ+ Mitr clinics in Hyderabad, Kalyan, and Pune have shut down following the freezing of USAID funds. These clinics provided critical services to over 5,000 transgender individuals annually, offering guidance and medication for hormone therapy, mental health counseling, HIV and STD support, legal aid, and general medical care. Each clinic required thirty lakh rupees per year to function and employed around eight people, making their impact immense despite their limited resources.

The sudden withdrawal of financial support has left the transgender community in a vulnerable state, stripping them of essential healthcare and support services. The closure of these clinics does not just mean the loss of medical aid. It signifies a broader systemic failure in recognizing and upholding the rights and dignity of transgender individuals in India. Stopping medical care funding for a marginalized group is not just a policy decision. It is inhuman and deeply unjust.

The Three Mitr Clinics: Locations and Shutdown Details

The three Mitr Clinics were located in Hyderabad, Kalyan, and Pune, providing critical healthcare services to the transgender community.

Hyderabad Mitr Clinic: Established in 2021, this was India’s first transgender-focused healthcare clinic. It was located in the city’s central region and played a pioneering role in offering hormone therapy, mental health support, and legal aid. The clinic was forced to shut down in February 2025 following the USAID fund freeze.
Kalyan Mitr Clinic: This clinic served the transgender population in Maharashtra, particularly those in semi-urban and rural areas. It offered similar services, including STD treatment and counseling. Exact address details are unavailable, but operations ceased in early February 2025.
Pune Mitr Clinic: Located in Pune’s urban center, this clinic was instrumental in providing specialized transgender healthcare and employment support. It closed around mid-February 2025 due to the funding cut.

The Impact on the Transgender Community

For many transgender individuals, accessing healthcare is already a challenge due to societal stigma, discrimination, and financial constraints. The Mitr clinics played a crucial role in bridging this gap, ensuring that transgender people had a safe space for medical and psychological support. With their closure, many will now be forced to seek expensive private healthcare, rely on inadequate government facilities, or, worse, forgo medical treatment altogether.

Beyond healthcare, the clinics also served as community centers where transgender individuals could seek legal aid and counseling, helping them navigate social and economic hardships. Their absence leaves a dangerous void, exacerbating mental health struggles and legal uncertainties for thousands.

Elon Musk’s Controversial Response

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1895402040400212271

Following the shutdown, billionaire Elon Musk commented on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “That’s what American tax dollars were funding.” While his statement may have been aimed at scrutinizing foreign aid spending, it comes across as an insensitive dismissal of the dire needs of marginalized communities.

Rather than celebrating the withdrawal of funding from a vital welfare scheme, the focus should be on understanding whether cutting this aid truly benefits American taxpayers or merely worsens the plight of already vulnerable communities abroad. The amount required to run these clinics is minuscule compared to global aid budgets, yet its impact on transgender lives was profound.

Policymakers and influential figures like Musk should reflect on whether the marginal financial savings justify the real human cost of such decisions. Ending support for an initiative that provided life-saving medical, mental health, and legal aid services does not equate to responsible fiscal policy. It equates to neglect.

How Can India Step Up

The closure of these clinics raises an urgent question. How can India ensure continued support for its transgender community

Government Welfare Schemes. The Indian government must step in to fill this gap by expanding existing transgender healthcare initiatives. While schemes like the National Transgender Policy exist, there is a need for more dedicated funds and structured implementation to replace what was lost.
Corporate Social Responsibility CSR Funding. Indian corporations should be encouraged to support transgender healthcare under their CSR obligations. Many private companies allocate funds for social causes, and healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community should be prioritized.
Public and NGO Support. Non-governmental organizations and civil society must mobilize to create alternative funding mechanisms to sustain these critical services. Crowdfunding, partnerships with international LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, and local fundraising can help rebuild what was lost.
State Government Involvement. Individual state governments should establish dedicated healthcare centers for transgender individuals, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential services.

Moving Forward

The shutdown of LGBTQ+ Mitr clinics is not just about financial aid. It is about a commitment to dignity, healthcare, and human rights. While international funding played a role in sustaining these centers, their absence highlights the need for India to take independent responsibility for the well-being of its transgender citizens.

Rather than relying on external funding, India must develop sustainable models for transgender healthcare. The question should not be about whether American tax dollars should have funded these clinics. It should be about how we, as a society, ensure that the transgender community is not left behind.

This is a wake-up call. If we truly value inclusivity and equality, we must act now to provide lasting solutions for those in need.