Intro to LGBT Health

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals exist in every community.  They encompass every race, culture, socioeconomic class, and age. We now know that the LGBT community face health disparities.  These are related to social stigma, differences in access to healthcare, discrimination, lack of knowledge, and denial of their rights.  We have also found with recent studies that LGBT persons have different healthcare needs, often related to psychiatric disorders (depression, substance abuse, and increased suicide rates) and differences in sexual behaviors.  The inequalities with LGBT individuals are associated with poorer health status.  With these findings, The National Coalition for LGBT Health was formed to focus on and advocate for clinical care and health needs of the LGBT community within the federal government in 2000.  This coalition was able to bring to light the needs of the LGBT community to Healthy People 2010, the nations 10 year health plan.  There is now an ongoing focus on these health needs in the new Healthy People 2020.  Being a new major focus in healthcare, the country was not far behind in making many advances for the LGBT community.  There are still, however, many adversities that continue to need changed. 

SMF

Healthy People 2020. (2012). 2020 Topics and objectives: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health: About LGBT Health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/about.htm