In recent years, the healthcare landscape for the LGBTQ+ community has garnered significant attention. While many headlines focus on the restrictions and bans on gender-affirming care, the reality is that the health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals run much deeper. While there has been progress in expanding access to transgender care in certain states, the overall shortage of providers trained in LGBTQ-affirming care negatively impacts the entire queer community.
Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals experience worse health outcomes compared to their heterosexual peers. This includes higher rates of certain cancers, heart disease, and mental health issues. Despite this urgent need, the number of healthcare providers specializing in LGBTQ+ health remains disproportionately low. Even though heart disease affects a similar percentage of the population as LGBTQ+ individuals (5-6% of U.S. adults), there are few fellowships focused on LGBTQ+ health.
Additionally, a significant number of LGBTQI+ adults reported negative experiences or mistreatment when seeking mental health care. This is particularly true for LGBTQI+ people of color and transgender or nonbinary individuals, with a majority encountering at least one form of mistreatment in the past year.
The Existence of Guidelines and Best Practices
There is no shortage of evidence, guidelines, or scientific research on providing care to LGBTQ+ individuals. Major healthcare associations and specialty groups have published comprehensive documentation on delivering inclusive care across different life stages. We know when to screen for cervical cancer in lesbian and bisexual women, how pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) benefits gay and bisexual men, and how to provide hormone therapy for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Moreover, successful models of LGBTQ+ healthcare exist, such as the federally qualified healthcare centers like Whitman Walker, Howard Brown, and Mazzoni Center. These centers have proven that the LGBTQ+ community will seek out well-trained staff and accurate education programs to receive quality care. Nonprofit healthcare systems have filled in the gaps in traditional healthcare, benefiting millions of LGBTQ+ individuals.
However, despite the progress made in LGBTQ+ healthcare, there remains a significant need for a workforce that truly understands and can deliver the care required by the community. LGBTQ+ individuals live in every corner of the country, and they deserve access to healthcare that meets their needs, regardless of their location. It is not enough to have LGBTQ+ affirming care available only within certain specialties or in specific regions.
Fortunately, the private sector is stepping up to bridge this gap. LGBTQ+ healthcare startups, backed by entities like Gaingels, are providing innovative solutions to connect queer individuals with culturally competent providers. Startups like Violet are developing a “badging” system to highlight providers’ cultural competency in LGBTQ+ care. This system aims to increase patient trust and willingness to seek care from these providers.
Another example is Plume, a transgender-led startup in the virtual care space. Plume offers hormone therapy to thousands of individuals by credentialing culturally competent nurse practitioners, DOs, and MDs across multiple states. Their evidence-based guidelines ensure the provision of quality care, regardless of the patient’s location or fear of facing discrimination or hostility.
While progress has been made in affirming the right to healthcare for transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals in some states, there is still much work to be done. Advocacy for systemic changes that ensure equitable access to care, free from discrimination, must continue. In the meantime, the innovative approaches taken by LGBTQ+ healthcare startups are making a significant difference.
As advocates, we must raise the bar higher and continue to push for change. LGBTQ+ individuals deserve not only equal rights but access to cutting-edge innovation in healthcare. By supporting startups and organizations dedicated to improving LGBTQ+ healthcare, we can ensure that the community receives the quality care they deserve, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or geographic location.
Addressing the healthcare disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community requires a multifaceted approach. While bans on gender-affirming care and structural barriers make headlines, the shortage of culturally competent providers remains a significant issue. By advocating for more comprehensive LGBTQ+ healthcare training and supporting innovative startups, we can move closer to a future where healthcare is truly inclusive and accessible for all.
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