LGBTQ Health: Health Care Provider Resources

Wisconsin’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and adults are at risk for adverse health outcomes. These risks are higher compared to their non-LGBTQ peers. These risks include:

• Alcohol, drug, and tobacco use.
• Safety and violence.
• Mental health.
• HIV risks.

Reasons for poorer health outcomes include:

• Reluctance to share their sexual orientation or gender identity with their health care providers. This reluctance is often caused by negative societal attitudes.
• Lack of training for health care providers to provide the right care to LGBTQ people.
• Limited access to health care due to structural barriers.
• Lack of appropriate prevention services for the LGBTQ community.
• Lack of communication between patients and health care providers.

Most medical training programs in the U.S. do not focus on LGBTQ cultural competence. Many health care providers do not know how to create a supportive environment for LGBTQ patients.

The following resources can help health care providers understand LGBTQ people and their health needs.

Resources

• Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community: A Field Guide (PDF)—Resource to help U.S hospitals create safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ patients and their families
• Center of Excellence for Transgender Health: University of California San Francisco— Information about transgender health for the public and health care providers
• Gay and Lesbian Medical Association—Health information and resources for LGBTQ people and health care teams
• Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Patients—Article for any provider with a transgender patient.
• Guidelines for Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients (PDF)—Care guidelines for LGBTQ patients
• The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding—Report on the health status of LGBTQ people. Highlights future research directions.
• LGBTQ Competency Toolkit—Resources for using LGBTQ-inclusive language
• LGBT HealthLink—Network of experts focused on improving LGBTQ health
• LGBTQ People and Cancer Fact Sheet (PDF)—Information for health care providers about cancer and LGBTQ people
• Men Who Have Sex with Men and Viral Hepatitis—Information about viral hepatitis
• National LGBT Cancer Network: Cultural Competency Training—National group that trains health care providers to support LGBTQ people
• National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center—Resources for health care groups on LGBTQ health. These resources include webinars, conferences, and learning modules.
• Practitioner’s Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children (PDF)—Resources to help health care providers support other care providers. This includes health, mental health, and social service providers. Resources focus on family-focused prevention and care for LGBTQ youth,
• Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities—Care providers serving sexual, affectional, intersex, and gender expansive communities
• World Professional Association for Transgender Health: Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People—Standards of care guidelines for health care providers and the public
• StopBullying.gov—Resources for stopping and preventing bullying
• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—Free, 24/7 support service for people in stressful situations. These include thoughts of suicide, mental health concerns, or substance abuse issues. Call or text 988.
• Top Health Issues for LGBT Populations Information and Resource Kit—Information about current LGBTQ health issues
• Wisconsin HIV Training System—Resources to help develop HIV prevention, health education, or human sexuality courses