Health disparities among lgbtq

LGBT+ People’s Health Status and Access to Care

Background

The participate of people in the United States who identifies as LGBT+ has increased substantially in recent years, particularly among younger generations, yet health disparities and health access-related challenges persist across multiple dimensions. Comprehending the health care needs and experiences of the more than 7% of LGBT+-identified people in the United States, including the one-in-five younger adults from Generation Z, is crucial for addressing barriers and facilitating access to protect and coverage.

While in some areas, the health experiences of LGBT+ people mirror those of their non-LGBT+ counterparts, studies have create that this population experiences certain challenges at higher rates than those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender, challenges which intersect with factors beyond sexual orientation and gender persona to include race/ethnicity, class, nationality, and age, among other aspects of individuality. Recognizing this, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified sexual and gender minorities as a “health disparity population” to inspire and support research in this area. Further, the Biden ad

LGBTQIA+ Health Disparities

LGBTQIA+ Health Disparities 

by Laura Crouch

June 2, 2021

 

Editor’s Note:  LGBTQIA+ is an umbrella acronym that generally stands for lesbian, gay, attracted to both genders, transgender, queer (and/or questioning), intersex and asexual. The acronym is designed to be as inclusive as possible with the “+” indicating any person who does not identify specifically with any of the listed terms but who exists outside of the cisgender and heterosexual norm. Throughout this piece, the author uses LGBTQ, LGBTQIA+, and queer interchangeably, though acknowledging that this usage iscontested even within the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Language is constantly changing and adapting to human understanding and life. This process is certainly evident in the history of public health and social welfare. Many of the definitions of terms and phrases used in this article can be foundin this glossary of termsfrom the Human Rights Campaign.

 

Introduction

A very diverse collective within itself, the LGBTQIA+ community contains people from every race, ethnicity, and socio-economic group. While each of these populations contain their own unique needs, studies

LGBTQ+ Health Disparities

1 Wilson, C., Cariola, L.A. 'LGBTQI+ Youth and Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research", https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40894-019-00118-w, last accessed June 2, 2021.

2 Tobacco Education Resource Library. “Tobacco Apply in the LGBT Community: A General Health Issue" https://stage-digitalmedia.hhs.gov/tobacco/webpages/18272, last accessed March 3, 2023.

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “HIV Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men”. (2018). https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-31/content/msm.html, last accessed June 2, 2021.

4 HIV.gov, "Who is at Risk for HIV?” https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/who-is-at-risk-for-hiv, last accessed June 2, 2021.

5 SAGE. “The Facts on LGBT Aging”. (2018) https://www.sageusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sageusa-the-facts-on-lgbt-aging.pdf [PDF]

6 Azagba, S., Shan, L., & Latham, K. (2019). “Overweight and Obesity among Sexual Minority Adults in the United States”. International journal of envir

Closing the gap on health disparities in the LGBTQ community

Posted May 03, 2021 by Scott T Hamler, MD

All of us rely on healthcare services at one time or another — and many of us take them for granted. But the unhappy truth is in today’s world, access to medical advice and treatment isn’t equal.

It is true LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Genderqueer and Questioning) individuals confront health disparities in a number of ways. As a result, this group is at a higher risk for certain medical conditions, has less access to healthcare and experiences worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts.

According to HealthyPeople.gov, health disparities among the LGBTQ community include:

  • They are two or three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide.
  • They are more likely to have anxiety or mood disorders.
  • They are less likely to procure preventative services for cancer, such as mammograms, Pap smears and rectal exams. Therefore, lesbians are at a higher risk of cervical cancer and same-sex attracted men are at a higher risk for anal cancer.
  • Gay men are at a higher risk for HIV and other STDs, and the community has higher rates of HPV infection.
  • They
    health disparities among lgbtq

    The LGBTQ Health Disparities Gap: Access to Healthcare for LGBTQ Individuals in the United States and the Impact it Has on Their Health

    Abstract

    Within the Together States, lesbian, male lover, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals statistically face a higher health disparity rate than heterosexuals. Studies show that LGBTQ individuals are often hesitant to seek care, or do not restore for follow up care because they experience unwelcoming environments or uncomfortable encounters with healthcare providers. The advancement of medical education in order to construct more culturally competent healthcare providers, as well as a more welcoming healthcare environment, could commence the process of closing this health disparities gap. Not only do negative encounters affect the physical health of LGBTQ individuals, but there is also adverse influence on their mental health. When healthcare facilities are unable to represent a place of positive group and welcomeness, they are not truly doing their position for the people they are supposed to be serving. There is a long history of discrimination toward LGBTQ people in the United states, but despite this history, there have been few nati