Affirming Care Saves Lives: The State of LGBTQ+ Health

Affirming Care Saves Lives: The State of LGBTQ+ Health

LGBTQ Health: Addressing Disparities and Advancing Equity

Healthcare should heal—not harm. Yet for many LGBTQ+ individuals, accessing quality, affirming healthcare remains a challenge. Discrimination, stigma, and systemic barriers continue to impact health outcomes, creating disparities that cannot be ignored.  It’s time to address LGBTQ+ health disparities with action, not just awareness.

A Familiar Experience for Many

For LGBTQ+ individuals, even a routine doctor’s visit can be stressful. Intake forms may not recognize their gender identity, providers may ask inappropriate questions, and there’s always the underlying worry of being treated differently. Unfortunately, this fear isn’t unfounded—many report being misgendered, dismissed, or even denied care. As a result, some avoid healthcare altogether, even when they need it most.

But these barriers aren’t just inconvenient—they have real consequences. Delayed or avoided care can lead to undiagnosed conditions, worsened mental health, and the progression of preventable illnesses. The fear of discrimination should never be a reason someone hesitates to seek medical attention.

The Impact of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation

In recent years, a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has made accessing healthcare even more difficult. These laws disproportionately harm transgender and nonbinary individuals, youth, and those seeking gender-affirming care.

How These Laws Affect Real Lives

In states where gender-affirming care has been restricted, families have been forced to make impossible choices—traveling across state lines for care, seeking underground networks of support, or going without medical treatment altogether. Meanwhile, healthcare providers face legal risks simply for offering the care their patients need.

Some of the most harmful policies include:

  • Bans on Gender-Affirming Care: Over 20 states have passed laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for minors, with some seeking to extend these bans to adults.

  • Restrictions on LGBTQ+ Healthcare Access: “Conscience clauses” allow healthcare providers to deny care based on personal beliefs, disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ patients.

  • Censorship & Erasure: Laws restricting discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in schools and public health settings make it harder for individuals to access accurate health information.

  • HIV & STI Prevention Barriers: Policies that limit access to PrEP (a medication that prevents HIV) or defund sexual health programs put LGBTQ+ individuals at greater risk.

These policies don’t exist in a vacuum—they actively contribute to worsened mental health, increased healthcare avoidance, and greater health disparities.

Understanding LGBTQ+ Health Disparities

LGBTQ+ individuals experience significant health inequities due to stigma, discrimination, and systemic barriers. These challenges contribute to:

  • Mental Health Struggles: LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide (Trevor Project), largely due to minority stress and social exclusion.

  • Substance Use: Higher rates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, often linked to coping with discrimination.

  • HIV & Sexual Health Risks: Greater vulnerability to HIV and STIs, particularly among transgender women.

  • Barriers to Healthcare: One-third of transgender individuals report being denied or mistreated by healthcare providers (NCTE), leading many to avoid medical care.

  • Housing Insecurity: LGBTQ+ people, especially youth and elders, experience disproportionately high rates of homelessness (Williams Institute).

The Personal Cost of Healthcare Barriers

For many transgender people, accessing healthcare can feel like navigating a minefield. Some have faced outright denial of care for unrelated medical concerns simply because of their gender identity. Others have had to educate their own doctors on basic aspects of transgender healthcare. These experiences create a cycle of avoidance—one that can have dire health consequences.

LGBTQ+ elders face additional challenges. Many who lived through earlier eras of extreme discrimination hesitate to disclose their identities to healthcare providers, fearing mistreatment. This results in isolation and lack of access to affirming care, particularly in long-term care facilities. No one should have to choose between receiving medical care and hiding their identity.

What Can We Do?

While these disparities are deeply rooted, change is possible. Whether you’re an LGBTQ+ individual, ally, healthcare professional, or policymaker, there are concrete steps you can take to help.

Support LGBTQ+ Healthcare Initiatives

  • Donate to organizations providing gender-affirming care, HIV prevention services, and LGBTQ+ mental health support.

  • Advocate for inclusive policies in hospitals, clinics, and insurance providers.

  • Volunteer or fundraise for LGBTQ+ community health centers.

Challenge Discriminatory Policies

  • Contact local, state, and national representatives to advocate for laws protecting LGBTQ+ healthcare rights.

  • Support policies that ban conversion therapy and expand access to gender-affirming care.

  • Speak out against healthcare discrimination in workplaces, schools, and community spaces.

Educate Yourself & Others on LGBTQ+ Health Needs

  • Learn about LGBTQ+ health disparities and their real-life impact.

  • Share resources with friends, family, and colleagues to dismantle misinformation.

  • Encourage healthcare providers and policymakers to undergo LGBTQ+ cultural competency training.

Closing Thoughts: Take Action Today

Healthcare should be a place of healing, not harm. No one should have to fear seeking medical care because of their identity. By listening to LGBTQ+ experiences, challenging discrimination, and advocating for inclusive policies, we can create a future where health equity is a reality for all.

Take Action: Advocate, educate, and support LGBTQ+ health equity today.

Resources for Further Learning & Action

LGBTQ+ Mental Health & Crisis Support.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare & Inclusive Providers

  • GLMA: Directory of LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers.

  • Planned Parenthood: Offers LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare, including hormone therapy at select locations.

  • Fenway Health: LGBTQ+ healthcare, research, and advocacy.

Transgender Health & Gender-Affirming Care

HIV & Sexual Health

LGBTQ+ Policy, Advocacy, & Legal Rights

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Health Disparities Among LGBTQ Youth. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/lgbtq-youth/health-disparities-among-lgbtq-youth.html
  2. The Trevor Project. (2023). New Poll Emphasizes Negative Impacts of Anti-LGBTQ Policies on LGBTQ Youth. Retrieved from https://www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/new-poll-emphasizes-negative-impacts-of-anti-lgbtq-policies-on-lgbtq-youth/
  3. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). LGBT Adults' Experiences with Discrimination and Health Care Disparities. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/poll-finding/lgbt-adults-experiences-with-discrimination-and-health-care-disparities-findings-from-the-kff-survey-of-racism-discrimination-and-health/
  4. American Psychiatric Association. (2023). Mental Health Disparities: LGBTQ. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-LGBTQ.pdf
  5. Rice University News. (2024). Anti-LGBTQ+ Restrictions and Legislation Linked to Host of Negative Health Effects on the Community. Retrieved from https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/anti-lgbtq-restrictions-and-legislation-linked-host-negative-health-effects-community
  6. American Civil Liberties Union. (2024). The Impacts of Anti-Transgender Laws and Policies. Retrieved from https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2024/08/Impact-AntiTrans-Law-Research-Brief-FINAL.pdf
  7. The 19th News. (2024). Experts Worry About Health Consequences from States' Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation. Retrieved from https://19thnews.org/2024/03/anti-trans-bills-health-worry/

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