Indonesia's gay and transgender community hails 1st clinic

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http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_730128.html

KUTA, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesia's gay and transgender community on Thursday hailed the opening of its first dedicated health clinic, as officials battle a soaring HIV rate in the Muslim majority nation.

The clinic on the Indonesian island of Bali, the first of its kind in the country, has received nearly 100 patients since it swung open its doors in early October, clinic administrator Dewa Nyoman Wirawan told AFP.

'They tend to think twice before seeking treatment at public health centres as they often have an unpleasant experience - especially the transgenders due to their physical appearance,' he said.

'People tend to judge (the community's) sexual orientation as deviant. Gays need such exclusive health clinics so that they will no longer hesitate to undergo routine screenings for sexually transmitted diseases or an HIV test.'