Health challenges facing LGBTQ+ Individuals
Want to learn how to better advocate for LGBTQ+ Kentuckians? Watch Health for a Change: LGBTQ+ Literacy in Health Advocacy on-demand.
The discussion includes efforts to ban conversion therapy, the barriers to care for transgender Kentuckians, and how to better navigate sometimes challenging conversations about gender.
This June, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is shining a spotlight on LGBTQ+ health, including barriers to care and disparities. Research shows LGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities linked to societal discrimination and the denial of their civil and human rights. This is associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance use and suicide.
Health disparities include:
LGBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide.
LGBT youth are more likely to be homeless.
Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer.
Gay men are at higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of color.
Lesbians and bisexual females are more likely to be overweight or obese.
Transgender individuals have a high prevalence of HIV/STDs, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide and are less likely to have health insurance than heterosexual or LGB individuals.
Elderly LGBT individuals face additional barriers to health because of isolation and a lack of social services and culturally competent providers.
LGBT populations have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.
Addressing and eliminating LGBTQ+ health disparities and enhancing efforts to improve the health of LGBTQ+ individuals is necessary to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals lead long, healthy lives. Benefits of addressing these health concerns and disparities include:
Reductions in disease transmission and progression
Increased mental and physical well-being
Reduced health care costs
Increased longevity
What can be done to improve the situation?
We must collect sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) on health-related surveys and health records.
Provide medical students with training to increase provision of culturally competent care.
Implement anti-bullying policies in schools.
Provide supportive social services to reduce suicide and homelessness among youth.
Curb human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with interventions that work.
Source: HealthyPeople.gov