Meeting the Healthcare Needs of the

LGBTQIA+ Community

Approximately 4.5% of the US population identifies as LGBTQIA+. Young people are more likely than older individuals to identify as gender or sexual minorities. As a minority group, LGBTQIA+ people experience chronic stress from stigma, bias, discrimination, and physical or verbal attacks. The associated health outcomes often include:

• Anxiety, depression, and suicide

• Substance use disorders

• HIV and sexually transmitted infections

• Avoidance of preventative healthcare, particularly mammography and cervical cancer screening

Creating an Inclusive

Health Care Environment

Due to past discriminatory experiences, gender and sexual minority individuals may avoid health care encounters or have negative expectations toward receiving care. A provider’s understanding of LGBTQIA+ terminology and use of affirming language can improve patients’ experience.

Gender Identity

A person’s inner sense of being a girl/woman/female, boy/man/male, something else, or having no gender. Examples include transgender, cisgender, and genderqueer. Asking each patient their name and pronouns and consistently using these is essential for gender affirming care. 

Sexual Orientation

The way a person characterizes their emotional and physical attraction to others. Some people are attracted to people of a particular gender; examples include heterosexual/straight, gay, and lesbian. Others are attracted to people of more than one gender; examples include bisexual and pansexual. People identifying as asexual have little or no sexual attraction toward anyone.