India’s first transgender clinic in Hyderabad shut, Elon Musk’s comment draws flak

Hyderabad: The Mitr Clinic, India’s first transgender clinic in Hyderabad, was forced to shut down following a 90-day freeze ordered by the US President Donald Trump on all foreign aid to projects which are being run under the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The other two such clinics, which provide healthcare to transgenders, were opened in Kalyan and Pune cities of Maharashtra. At these healthcare facilities, the transgenders were offered a range of services including hormone therapy guidance and medication, mental health counseling, HIV and STI support, legal aid, and general medical care.

Mitr Clinic was first launched in 2021 at Narayanguda in Hyderabad with an aim to provide healthcare services including mental health support to the LGBTQIA+ community. The clinic was forced to suspend its services after its parent non-profit Project ACCELERATE stopped receiving funding from the USAID.

According to reports, each of these clinics have employed eight people to render services and they need Rs. 30 lakh annually to run the facility. However, the organisers of the clinic have got a waiver from USAID to keep running certain life-saving activities, including providing antiretroviral medication to HIV-infected people.

When ‘World of Statistics’ announced the closure of transgender clinic on X, stating“NEWS: India’s first transgender clinic, Mitr Clinic in Hyderabad, shuts down due to USAID fund freeze.”, Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reacted to it with these words, “That’s what American tax dollars were funding.”

However, Musk's comment did not sit well with many on social media. Many disagreed with his reaction while there were others who supported him.

“Maybe they (Mitr Clinic) were funding something good indeed: Until June 2024, the clinic had registered over 4,900 clients, focusing on the significant HIV burden among transgender individuals, with a 6% HIV positivity rate and 83% of those diagnosed receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART),” wrote a user.

“Shame on those that have been milking and riding on USA tax dollars.
Why would we fund transgender in India. Is it a priority.
Shameful,” commented another.

“Countless children and youth were spared from dangerous gender transition experiments — stopping USAID funding and shutting this clinic is a big win for India’s future. Special thanks to @elonmusk @realDonaldTrump @POTUS,” wrote a third user.