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Howard Brown Opening LGBT Medical Center in Rogers Park

By Linze Rice | September 29, 2015 2:22pm
 A new Howard Brown Health Center medical clinic tailored for LGBT patients will open in the first floor at 6500 N. Clark St. in Rogers Park, where the Gerber/Hart Library currently occupies the second floor.
A new Howard Brown Health Center medical clinic tailored for LGBT patients will open in the first floor at 6500 N. Clark St. in Rogers Park, where the Gerber/Hart Library currently occupies the second floor.
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Google Maps, Howard Brown Health Center

ROGERS PARK — A new LGBT-tailored medical center will open at the ground floor of a Rogers Park building currently occupied by the Midwest's largest collection of LGBT literature, according to officials.

Howard Brown Health Center, which already has locations in Lakeview and Uptown, said they plan to open up shop right next door the Rogers Park Police Station at 6500 N. Clark St. by the end of the year.

On the second floor is Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, a decades-old LGBT organization.

In late 2015, they say they'll open their doors to provide limited medical service, but will be able to offer a full set of services ranging from primary health care, to HIV/STD testing to behavioral health care, the organization said in an email to constituents.

Services will be offered on a sliding scale to patients. The center will also serve as a meeting and event place, officials with the group said.

They are opening the new center because of funds raised after being recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center, they say.

“The new site, located in an emerging hub for LGBTQ culture in Chicago, furthers Howard Brown’s mission to eliminate the disparities in healthcare experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning people," said David Ernesto Munar, the center's president and CEO. "Sharing a space with Gerber/Hart also gives us an exciting opportunity to provide a robust wellness experience that impacts a visitor’s body, mind and spirit.”  

Gerber/Hart moved into the building at 6500 N. Clark in 2013 and holds over 14,000 volumes, 800 periodical titles, and 100 archival collections of items related to LGBT history.

Carrie Barnett, board president of Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, said the shared space partnership is "another great milestone" for the city's LGBTQ community, something her organization has worked hard to advance.

“For decades, Gerber/Hart has been an important repository that documents Chicago’s rich LGBTQ history. Sharing a space with Howard Brown will provide new opportunities for the community to learn about and connect with our movement’s beginnings, local leaders, art and contributions to this great city.”

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