Mel Kennedy (They/Them), CPM, CLC

My commitment to equitable and affirming care is deeply rooted in my own identity and my life’s work as an advocate. As a queer, non-binary, anti-racist healthcare provider who is also a member of the neurodivergent community, I understand the systemic barriers and microaggressions that marginalized individuals face within medical settings. My goal is to dismantle those barriers by offering compassionate, evidence-based care that centers bodily autonomy and cultural humility. My advocacy began with my own birth, fueling a lifelong passion for reproductive justice. I operate from the core belief that all people deserve equitable reproductive care and the empowerment to make informed decisions about their own bodies.

Specific LGBTQ+ Services and Affirmation
The Garden Reproductive Health is dedicated to providing a safe, affirming, and expert space for all gender-expansive individuals and families on Oʻahu. We specifically address the unique needs of this community through:

Gender-Affirming Doula Care: I offer personalized pre- and post-operative care for clients undergoing gender transition, including assistance with transportation, recovery support, bandage changes, and connecting clients with community resources.

Fertility & Conception Support: I specialize in assisting queer families with conception planning, including future IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) services.

Inclusive Language & Practice: We utilize trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and body-positive frameworks in all care. Our practice explicitly welcomes and centers the experiences of Trans, Non-binary, and non-cisgender individuals, including Māhū, Two-Spirited, and the full spectrum of Pasifika MVPFAFF+ gender identities.

Co-Nursing/Co-Lactation Support: My Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) services actively support parents and families with co-nursing and chestfeeding after breast or chest surgery.

Qualifications and Training
My clinical and advocacy training has been specifically aimed at reducing healthcare disparities for the LGBTQI+ community:

Program Leadership: I served as the LGBTQI+ Prenatal and Postnatal Leader at the Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington for a full year, where I led inclusive support groups for LGBTQI+ parents and families from conception through postpartum.

Community Initiative: I actively collaborated with the Person of Color support team and LGBTQI+ support initiatives at NOVA Birth Partners, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive care and community building.

Specialized Certification: I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), ensuring expert, evidence-based reproductive and lactation care.

Holistic Framework: My practice integrates knowledge from a 2-year Herbalist Apprenticeship, which informs my approach to holistic care, honoring the client’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.