About this course:
This learning module will discuss the considerations of caring for individuals within the LGBTQIA community. This includes understanding a brief history of past care, the continuing evolution of health care concerns, and an understanding of personal and institutional interventions that will help develop personalized care plans for patients who identify as members of the LGBTQIA community.
Course preview
LGBTQIA Culturally Competent Care Considerations
This learning module will discuss the considerations of caring for individuals within the LGBTQIA community. This includes understanding a brief history of past care, the continuing evolution of health care concerns, and an understanding of personal and institutional interventions that will help develop personalized care plans for patients who identify as members of the LGBTQIA community.
By completing this learning module, the learner should be able to:
- define terms used to describe individuals both within and outside the LGBTQIA community
- identify important early historical events that helped shape health care for the LGBTQIA community
- describe goals for improving the health of individuals in the LGBTQIA community
- describe the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity
- explain health care professional (HCP) considerations for providing culturally competent care
- identify barriers to health care for individuals who are part of the LGBTQIA community
Terminology
LGBTQIA is an umbrella term encompassing two distinct facets of identity: sexual orientation and gender identity. Historically, the acronym LGBT was used to describe the community of individuals who describe themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. At the turn of the 21st century, a "Q" was added to the acronym to include individuals identifying as queer or questioning. As the 21st century has progressed, more letters have been added to the acronym to be more inclusive to all individuals. Although there is debate on the most up-to-date acronym and the meaning of each letter, many organizations have accepted the expanded acronym of LGBTQIA+. The "I" stands for intersex, and the "A" stands for asexual. The plus sign (+) includes all individuals whose identity or sexual expression does not fall under the other identified terms. The terms that describe various groups and how they identify are constantly evolving and are meant to reflect the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community rather than serve as concrete definitions. Many of these terms also overlap with each other and may be used differently by different people. The primary concern is how individuals identify themselves and relate to the descriptions provided (Bass & Nagy, 2023; LGBTQIA Resource Center, 2023). When determining what terminology to use, always defer to the individual.
The following is an abbreviated list of commonly used terms and their meanings (Bass & Nagy, 2023; The Center, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, n.d.; Human Rights Campaign [HRC], n.d.-a; LGBTQIA Resource Center, 2023; Malcarney & Amaro, 2024).
Foundational Terms
- Sex assigned at birth (either assigned female at birth [AFAB] or assigned male at birth [AMAB], or intersex) is a medically constructed categorization determined at birth, or via an ultrasound, and is based solely on the appearance of the external genitalia. Assigned sex does not always align with an individual's gender identity or expression.
- Intersex is a general term used to describe individuals who have a body variation that does not fit the conventional definitions of male and female. This includes variations in chromosome compositions, hormone levels, and external or internal sexual organ development. Intersex infants who have ambiguous external genitalia are often assigned a binary sex at this time. Many intersex infants are given “normalizing” operations to match their genitals to the binary sex assignments, a practice that is strongly denounced by the intersex community, advocacy groups, and human rights organizations due to the harm it causes.
- Genderis an umbrella term that describes the complex interplay between one's inner identity and outward social expression.
- Gender identity is an individual's innermost concept of being male, female, both, or neither. It encompasses how individuals perceive and refer to themselves. It can be the same or different than the sex an individual was assigned at birth.
- Gender expression describes the external behaviors and appearance that an individual uses to express their gender identity, which may include clothing, hair, vocal mannerisms, and other social cues. Since ideas of gender can vary greatly from culture to culture, two individuals with the same gender identity may have very different gender expressions. For example, some cultures consider short hair to be masculine, while other cultures consider long hair to be masculine.
- Orientation describes an individual’s romantic or sexual attraction to other people. An individuals’ orientation can be fluid and span various categories. People often use a single term to describe both their romantic and sexual attraction, but many people differentiate between the two.
- Sexual orientation is sexual attraction or nonattraction to another individual.
- Romantic orientation is a romantic attraction or nonattraction to another individual.
Specific Terms
Related to Gender Identity
- Cisgender describes individuals whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth.
- Transgender is an umbrella term often shortened to "trans." The term describes individuals whose gender identity differs from the expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.
- Gender nonconforming describes individuals who express a gender outside of the traditional norms of masculinity and femininity. The term is often used to describe gender expression instead of gender identity. Refer also to androgyne and bigender.
- Androgyne describes individuals with a masculine and feminine gender or somewhere between masculine and feminine.
- Bigender describes individuals who identify as having two genders, exhibiting both masculine and feminine characteristics.
- Gender fluid describes individuals whose gender identity or expression shifts or is fluid.
- Gender neutral describes individuals who prefer not to be described as either male or female. These individuals often prefer to use neutral pronouns like they/them or neopronouns like xe/xyr, ze/zir, ae/aer.
- Genderqueer is another term for individuals whose gender expression or identity falls outside the binary norm for their assigned sex.
- Nonbinary, or enby, describes an individual who identifies as neither male nor female. These individuals embrace limitless forms of expression and create new ideas of themselves within societ
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Related to Gender Expression
- Pronounsare terms used to refer to an individual in the third person. In some languages, pronouns are tied to gender identification and contribute to misgendering. The most common pronouns in English are they/them/theirs, she/her/hers, and he/him/his.
- Neopronouns are alternatives to common pronouns, such as xe/xem/xyr/xyrs, ze/zir/zirs, and fae/faer/faers.
- Transitioning is an individual's process of moving toward living as their identified gender. The method of transitioning is different for every individual and may or may not include medical interventions such as hormone replacement or surgery. A "complete" transition is not needed to validate the gender identity of an individual.
- Crossdresser describes individuals who dress, at least occasionally, in clothing stereotypically worn by a person outside their assigned sex. This term replaces the word transvestite and does not reflect sexual orientation.
- Dragrefers to an art form involving a stylized or exaggerated performance of gender expression. People of any gender can perform drag, and drag performance is not an indication of a person’s gender identity.
- A drag king is a person who dresses in a masculine nature for an act or performance.
- A drag queen is a person who dresses in a feminine nature for an act or performance.
Related to Sexual Orientation
- Asexual, also known as ace, describes a broad spectrum of sexual orientations related to a lack of sexual attraction. Asexual individuals may feel no sexual attraction to other people or experience varying or occasional sexual attraction. This does not mean they are unable to experience romantic or emotional attraction. Asexuality is different from celibacy, which is the desire to engage in sexual activity but choosing to abstain from sex.
- Aromantic, also known as aro, describes a broad spectrum of romantic orientations related to a lack of romantic attraction. Aromantic individuals may feel no romantic attraction to other people or experience varying or occasional romantic attraction. This does not mean they are unable to experience sexual or emotional attraction.
- Gay refers to an individual with a sexual or an emotional affection toward individuals of the same gender. Homosexual is an outdated term no longer used to describe these individuals.
- Lesbian is often used to describe a female individual who is sexually and emotionally attracted to an individual of the same gender. Some individuals who identify as nonbinary consider themselves lesbians.
- Multisexualis a term used to describe being attracted to more than one gender. The term can encompass sexual attractions such as bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, and omnisexual, to name a few. These terms overlap and are up to individual interpretation.
- Bisexual identifies individuals with an attraction to two or more genders. The term has evolved over time, and it is a common misconception that the prefix “bi-“ upholds the gender binary, but bisexuality includes attraction to transgender or nonbinary individuals.
- Pansexual or omnisexual describes a person attracted to individuals of any gender.
Other terminology
- Queer is an umbrella term describing sexual orientation and/or gender identity outside the cultural norm. Historically, the term was used as a slur against individuals whose gender expression or sexuality did not conform with societal norms. Many people in the LGBTQIA+ community have reclaimed the word, however, not all of the community uses queer to describe themselves and some still find it offensive. It can be considered hateful and derogatory when used by individuals who do not identify as part of the LGBTQIA community.
- Questioning refers to individuals still exploring their gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation.
- Biphobia refers to discomfort, fear, or loathing of people who are attracted sexually to two or more genders.
- Misgendering is attributing a specific gender that does not align with an individual's gender identity.
- The + symbol has been added to include everything on the gender and sexuality spectrum that has not yet been described or labeled (Bass & Nagy, 2023; The Center, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, n.d.; HRC, n.d.-a; LGBTQIA Resource Center, 2023; Malcarney & Amaro, 2024).
Alternative acronyms
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)
- Gender and Sexual Minorities (GSM) or Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD)
- Marginalized Orientations, Gender Alignments or Identities, and Intersex (MOGAI)
History with Health Care Providers
For most of history, being part of the LGBTQIA community was viewed as having a disease. Initially, those interested in promoting the message that being gay could be healthy had a single primary goal: to overturn the diagnosis of homosexuality as a mental disorder within the field of psychiatry.
In 1973, following years of lobbying by gay activists, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) asked members attending their annual convention to vote on whether they believed homosexuality was an illness. If it were not considered an illness, the APA would have to remove the diagnosis of "homosexuality" from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Second Edition (DSM-II). In 1973, the APA voted to remove homosexuality from the DSM, and it was finalized in April 1974 in a referendum. The APA also noted support for civil rights legislation and pledged to advocate for the same fair treatment of and protections for gay individuals given to heterosexual individuals. Although the APA removed homosexuality from the DSM-II, it was replaced with "sexual orientation disturbance" for people "in conflict with" their sexual orientation. In 1987, sexual orientation was removed entirely from the DSM (Bass & Nagy, 2023; Wakefield, 2024).
Early Organizations and Social Movements
The civil rights movement in the United States started political demands for the equitable and fair treatment of gay and lesbian individuals in public policy, mental health, and employment. Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King's primary organizer, advocated for LGBTQ rights and social justice. The earliest gay organizations in the United States formed in the 1950s and were named the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis. In 1958, a national gay periodical, One, won the right to be mailed through the United States postal service through a Supreme Court ruling. A critical juncture in social justice for gay rights was in 1969 with the Stonewall riots. The concept of LGBTQIA identity only began to emerge through the formation of the National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation in 1977, which later became the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association. Starting from this time, a growing body of work addressed how homosexuality impacted society. Still, the focus on LBGTQIA+ equity was less prominent in medicine and more focused within political theory, psychology, social science, sociology, and education. In the early 1980s, concern grew about the lack of information available on the physical and mental health of lesbians. A few young researchers, public health professionals, and HCPs organized the first National Lesbian Health Care Survey. In the 1980s, AIDS was first identified. The gay community had to face the emergence of a deadly illness that was spreading quickly, with no treatment or cure, for which transmission vectors were only partly understood. AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prompted the LGBTQIA community to focus their resources on encouraging the health care system to care for and attend to the needs of many gay men, bisexual men, and transgender women, with lesbians, bisexual women, and transgender men frequently at their side as caregivers (Cornell University Library, n.d.; Morris, 2023; Palmer, 2025; Levy, 2025).
In the 1990s, there were successful attempts in some state and local jurisdictions to include questions about sexual orientation on health surveys such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health Interview Survey. For the first time, these questions provided scientifically valid data on LGB respondents (the terminology at the time included only lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals), enabling public health workers to identify health disparities between LGB people and their heterosexual peers. Valid measures of health disparities were available for the first time, and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its Healthy People 2010 document, which included 28 focus areas. The Healthy People series is the federal framework for identifying and addressing objectives to improve national health metrics. In addition, they awarded funding to support the first-ever Companion Document for LGBT Health to Healthy People 2010 (which included transgender individuals for the first time) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015; HHS, n.d.; Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, 2001; Pho et al., 2023).
Healthy People
Individuals within the LGBTQIA community encompass all races, ethnicities, religions, and social classes. Sexual orientation and gender identity questions are not asked on most national or state surveys, making it difficult to estimate the number of LGBTQIA individuals and their health needs. Research suggests that LGBTQIA individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBTQIA persons has been associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorders, substance use disorder, and suicide than individuals identifying with socially normative sexual orientation and gender identification. Experiences of violence and victimization are more frequent for LGBTQIA individuals and have long-lasting effects on individuals and their communities. Personal, familial, and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity affects the mental health and safety of all LGBTQIA individuals. The LGBTQ companion document to Healthy People 2010 highlighted the need for more research to document, understand, and address the environmental factors that contribute to health disparities in the LGBTQIA community. Despite this work, there is an ongoing need to increase the number of national, health-related surveys that collect information on sexual orientation and gender identity. To address LGBTQIA health issues effectively, HCPs need to collect this information in national surveys and health records securely and consistently. This will allow researchers and policymakers to accurately characterize LGBTQIA health and disparities (CDC, 2015; Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, 2001; Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d.).
The first step in meeting the needs of the LGBTQIA community is collecting population-level data; however, sexual orientation and gender identity is still not included consistently in many state and national surveys. The newest version of Healthy People—Healthy People 2030—was released in 2020. This version has updated data and objectives based on current health care issues and the Healthy People 2020 survey results (ODPHP, n.d.). Healthy People 2030 objectives focus on the health disparities and challenges faced by members of the LGBTQIA community, including the following.
- Reduce bullying of LGBTQ high school students.
- Increase the proportion of people (i.e., anyone who has a cervix, including transgender and intersex patients) who get screened for cervical cancer.
- Reduce the proportion of people aged 21 years and over who engaged in binge drinking in the past month.
- Reduce the proportion of LGBTQ high school students who have used illicit drugs.
- Reduce suicidal thoughts in LGBTQ high school students.
- Increase the number of national surveys that collect data on LGBTQ populations.
- Increase the number of states, territories, and District of Columbia (DC) that include sexual orientation and gender questions in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
- Increase the number of states, territories, and DC that use the standard module on sexual orientation and gender identity in the BRFSS.
- Reduce the number of new HIV diagnoses and infections.
- Increase knowledge of HIV status and access to HIV medical care.
- Increase viral suppression.
- Reduce the syphilis rate in men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Reduce current tobacco use and cigarette smoking in adults and adolescents (ODPHP, n.d.).
Understanding LGBTQIA health starts with knowing the history of oppression and discrimination members of these communities have faced. Social determinants affecting the health of LGBTQIA individuals primarily relate to oppression and discrimination. Examples include legal discrimination limiting access to health insurance, employment, housing, marriage, adoption, and retirement benefits; a lack of laws regarding bullying in schools; a lack of social programs designed for LGBTQIA youth, adults, and older adults; and a shortage of health care providers who are knowledgeable and culturally competent in LGBTQIA health (ODPHP, n.d.).
Several issues will need to continue to be evaluated and addressed in the upcoming Healthy People initiatives, including nationally representative data on LGBTQIA Americans; prevention of violence and homicide toward the LGBTQIA community, especially the transgender population; resiliency in LGBTQIA communities; LGBTQIA parenting issues throughout the lifespan; the health and wellbeing of older adults; exploration of sexual orientation and gender identity among youth; the need for an LGBTQIA wellness model; and the recognition of transgender health needs as medically necessary (ODPHP, n.d.).
LGBTQIA Issues in Health Care
As a group, members of the LGBTQIA community often experience health disparities. This is caused by a combination of barriers to care, including decreased quality and timeliness of health care across the lifespan. Contributing to these barriers are lower rates of health insurance coverage: members of the LGBTQIA community are more likely to be uninsured compared to individuals outside of the LGBTQIA community, despite advances made by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2020, under the Trump administration, HHS removed the nondiscrimination protections in Section 1557 of the ACA for individuals of the LGBTQIA community regarding health care and insurance coverage. The original document stated that protections due to sex included those based on gender identity, including male, female, neither, or any combination. The latter version removed all references to gender identity, sexual orientation, and the LGBTQIA community. Just four days before this change to the ACA, the US Supreme Court ruled to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity into Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The legality of this change, according to HHS, despite the Supreme Court's ruling, was that health care is different than employment and is therefore exempt from the expansion of Title VII (Bosworth et al., 2021; Malina et al., 2020; Office for Civil Rights [OCR], 2025b; National LGBT Health Education Center, n.d.; Simmons-Duffin, 2020; Tran & Gonzales, 2025; White et al., 2020).
Another barrier to health care for individuals in the LGBTQIA community involves not having a primary HCP. Many states permit HCPs to refuse care for LGBTQIA members due to religious or moral beliefs. A national survey conducted by the Center for American Progress in 2022 reported that 30% of LGBQ individuals reported negative experiences with a health care provider and 1 in 3 transgender respondents were refused care by an HCP due to their gender identity or sexual orientation in the previous year (National LGBT Health Education Center, n.d.; Medina & Mahowald, 2023; Simmons-Duffin, 2020; White et al., 2020).
A long history of bias has made members of the LGBTQIA community cautious about the health care system, contributing to delayed treatment. Although research indicates explicit bias has decreased among HCPs, implicit bias persists within the health care system, as even HCPs who are well-meaning lack proper education regarding LGBTQIA issues. A recent survey of nursing faculty found that only 25% of their curriculum included care for LGBTQIA patients and even less for transgender patients. Another national study found that most practicing nurses do not have training on LGBTQIA health care issues (Gedzyk-Nieman & Hand, 2023; National LGBT Health Education Center, n.d.; Sherman et al., 2021; Simmons-Duffin, 2020).
Members of the LGBTQIA community have the same health concerns as the general population; however, specific disparities affect them at higher rates than the public as a whole. This is compounded if the person identifying as part of the LGBTQIA community is also a person of color (Serchen et al., 2024). Health-specific disparities that affect the LGBTQIA community include but are not limited to the following.
- LGBTQIA individuals are more likely to self-report being in poor health.
- LGBTQIA youth are 3 to 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.
- LGBTQIA youth are at least twice as likely (4% to 5%) to experience homelessness than their heterosexual and cisgender peers (2%).
- LGBTQIA youth report parental abuse 1.2 times more and sexual abuse 3.8 times more than heterosexual and cisgender peers.
- 28% of LGBTQIA youth report victimization through cyberbullying.
- Lesbian and bisexual individuals are less likely to receive preventative medical care related to cancer, have higher rates of distress psychologically, and report overall poorer status of functioning.
- Gay men and other MSM are at an increased risk of contracting HIV and other STIs. These individuals account for almost 70% of all HIV and AIDs patients in the United States.
- Lesbians and bisexual females are more likely to have a higher BMI than heterosexual females.
- Transgender individuals have an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, HIV and other STIs, victimization, mental health disorders, suicide, and underinsurance.
- Older LGBTQIA adults face barriers such as isolation and a lack of culturally competent care.
- LGBTQIA individuals have a higher rate of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use (Bass & Nagy, 2023; Cannon, 2024; Carroll & Siegel, 2024; Forcier & Olson-Kennedy, 2024; National LGBT Health Education Center, n.d.; ODPHP, n.d.; Serchen et al., 2024; White et al., 2020).
The minority stress model explains how LGBTQIA individuals experience chronic stress living as a sexual or gender minority, impacting their overall well-being and resulting in poor health and decreased life expectancy. The stress can arise from concealing their true self or facing discrimination and stigma. Members of the LGBTQIA community experience higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, smoking, cardiovascular disease, and interpersonal violence than individuals outside of the LGBTQIA community (White et al., 2020).
Cultural Competence
HCPs must recognize that sexual orientation is an identity label and may not correspond to the full range of a person's sexual behavior. Everyone also has a gender identity. The term transgender also includes those who may identify as nonbinary or genderqueer, meaning their gender identity is a combination of male, female, or neither. When obtaining a sexual history, HCPs should ask about sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, and gender identity to identify and understand a patient's health needs and risks (Feldman & Deutsch, 2023; HRC, n.d.-a; Medina-Martinez et al., 2021). The CDC (2024) suggests that HCPs utilize the five Ps to guide dialogue with patients about their sexual history.
- Partners
- Practices
- Protection from STIs
- Past history of STIs
- Pregnancy intention
The goal of using the five Ps is to improve patient health and outcomes. Although the information gained can be helpful to the HCP, it is essential not to use the five Ps to obtain full disclosure from the patient, especially if they are not comfortable discussing this information (CDC, 2024).
HCPs should not assume a person's gender, sex, or sexuality. While most health care organizations require sex to be documented, a culturally inclusive system will also request and document a patient's gender and the name they wish to be called. Staff should be educated on capturing a patient's sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, gender identification, and chosen name and title during the registration process. Clinical terminology can be disrespectful when conversing with patients, so HCPs should use inclusive language and not make assumptions about sexuality. When discussions of historical events or information are necessary, HCPs should still use pronouns to match how a person now identifies (Medina-Martínez et al., 2021).
It is recommended that HCPs use non-gendered language that does not reflect unconscious bias or assumptions, even when asking questions about anatomy or biology. HCPs need to be aware that how they ask these questions can potentially create a barrier between themselves and the patient, leading to poor health care provision and poor health outcomes. To help avoid this, HCPs should undertake cultural competency training. Organizational policies and practices should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are inclusive and engage HCPs and consumers in their development (Medina-Martinez et al., 2021).
When discussing a patient's relationships, HCPs should use non-gendered words, listen to how a person describes their partner(s), or privately ask how they identify. Avoid making assumptions by using terms such as boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife, or mother or father. How and whether a person chooses to label their relationship should be respected and will differ by individual. For example, a transgender patient and their current partner may prefer to be described as a same-gender couple, not a straight couple. People in a relationship with someone of a nonbinary gender may choose to be characterized using gender-neutral language, such as partner instead of boyfriend or girlfriend and parent or caregiver instead of mother or father. Do not assume a patient’s sexuality based on their gender expression or their partner’s gender expression; ask appropriate questions regardless of marital or relationship status (APA, n.d.; Bass & Nagy, 2023; Medina-Martinez et al., 2021; National LGBT Health Education Center, n.d.).
Special Considerations for Transgender Patients
As defined above, transgender individuals’ gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The incidence in the United States of adults who identify as transgender is estimated to be between 0.3% and 1.6%. The ratio of patients seeking masculinizing or feminizing gender-affirming care has changed; previously, patients seeking feminizing care were more common, but in recent decades, there has been an increase in patients seeking masculinizing care. Health care treatment for transgender individuals should reflect the needs and desires of the individual patient. The level of support for transitioning will vary from patient to patient—from social transition to gender-affirming hormone and surgical treatments. To provide the best care, the HCP should ascertain the individual's sex assigned at birth, surgical, and hormonal status. This can help increase important preventative screenings such as breast, cervical, or prostate cancer. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health has created the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender-Nonconforming People to provide clinical guidelines for HCPs treating these individuals. HCPs must nonjudgmentally accept patients’ gender identities and refer to individuals by their chosen pronouns and name (Dakkak et al., 2023; Feldman & Deutsch, 2023; García, 2024; Hines et al., 2023; Jardine et al., 2024; White et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2020). For more information, refer to the Nursing CE course Transgender Care and Healthcare Considerations.
Electronic Medical Record
The barriers to comprehensive and appropriate health care for the LGBTQIA community begin as soon as they enter a clinic, provider's office, or hospital. Often, patient questionnaires only allow the gender options of male and female, and there is no differentiation between which gender the patient identifies with and which sex was assigned at birth. Over 1 million individuals in the United States identify as transgender, and answering these questions can be challenging and leave the individual feeling ostracized (Malcarney & Amaro, 2024; Quinan, 2025; Zhang et al., 2020).
Most health care institutions have started using electronic medical records (EMRs). Unfortunately, within many EMRs, bias and discrimination are present. EMRs use the identification of birth sex to help facilitate patient care needs. For example, when a person is assigned female at birth, the EMR alerts HCPs of preventative testing and assessments the patient should have, including a pap smear or mammogram. The EMR can also determine acceptable laboratory values and medication dosages based on an individual's assigned sex at birth. Including a gender identity area within an EMR can assist HCPs in using the correct pronouns and avoid misgendering a patient. A separate gender identity field in the EMR allows HCPs to address individuals as they identify but leaves assigned birth sex as initially determined so that preventative screening alerts, medication dosage changes, and laboratory value ranges will stay the same. Health care systems that do not have this option may be forced to change the patient's assigned birth sex to address the patient by their pronouns; however, this removes all the sex-specific alerts for the HCP to provide certain health services (e.g., prostate exams and pap smears) (Callari, 2025; Malcarney & Amaro, 2024; Feldman & Deutsch, 2023).
In response to this problem within various EMRs, the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) has endorsed a two-step self-identification approach to collecting data regarding a patient's sexual orientation and gender identity. This allows individuals to specify their preferred gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth. This format benefits both patient and HCP by respecting the patient's identity while allowing the HCP to interpret test results and offer preventative care based on the patient's sex assigned at birth. For individuals or groups using health care data from the EMR to conduct research, this new identification approach will help place patients into the appropriate cohort if gender or sex is a factor. This would also allow for the collection of population-level data and facilitate the meeting of the Healthy People 2030 goals stated above of increasing the number of national surveys that collect data on LGBTQIA populations and the number of states and territories that include sexual orientation and gender questions in the BRFSS (AMIA, n.d.; Kidd et al., 2021; Malcarney & Amaro, 2024; ODPHP, n.d.).
Protected Health Information
In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted into federal law. The purpose of HIPAA is to improve the continuity of health insurance coverage while establishing national privacy standards regarding patient medical information. The health data protected under HIPAA are referred to as protected health information (PHI). Some HCPs and institutions incorrectly use HIPAA to deny LGBTQIA patients and families their right to visitation and information (HRC, n.d.-b).
HIPAA contains several provisions that recognize various roles family members or other individuals have in a patient's health care. HIPAA does not limit any information sharing based on the sexual orientation or gender identification of the patient or the recipient of the PHI. Privacy Rule 45 CFR 160.103 includes language that defines a family member, spouse, and marriage. Marriage consists of all lawful marriages. Same-sex marriage has been recognized since the Supreme Court ruled in the 2015 case of Obergefell v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment requires any state to license a marriage between two same-sex individuals and recognize marriages from outside the state between same-sex individuals as lawful. The term spouse refers to all individuals in a legal marriage, regardless of sex or gender. Family members include a person's spouse and dependents of a lawful marriage. These definitions are relevant because HCPs can disclose patient PHI—including location, condition, and death—to recognized family members under certain circumstances. These definitions also apply to the disclosure of genetic information for underwriting purposes. Insurance companies cannot use genetic information, diseases, or disorders of a family member to make underwriting decisions about an individual (HHS, 2024; OCR, 2025a). The OCR (2025a, para. 7) explains that:
"under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, disclosures to a loved one who is not married to the patient or is not otherwise recognized as a relative of the patient under applicable law generally are permitted under the same circumstances and conditions as disclosures to a spouse or other person who is recognized as a relative under applicable law."
This clarification occurred following the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, as hospitals did not know under what circumstances sharing PHI with a loved one was warranted or protected (OCR, 2025a).
Future Considerations
The reemergence of certain biases has negatively affected the care of individuals belonging to the LGBTQIA community. This is partly due to policy changes at the federal and state levels allowing HCPs and insurance companies to deny care to members of the LGBTQIA community based on moral and religious beliefs. This regressive trend can be changed with increased education and acceptance. As of April 2025, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently monitoring nearly 600 anti-LGBTQ bills, and the OCR actively works against discrimination by requesting notification of infractions and injustices. If society becomes less tolerant of the discrimination and bullying experienced by members of the LGBTQIA community, those members may feel safer and secure being themselves. This could increase social visibility and self-esteem and decrease depression, suicide, and substance use rates. Better acceptance and improved competency in care by HCPs may increase health care visits for preventative care, STI treatment, and mental health referrals. This change includes the need for HCPs to be more educated on the LGBTQIA community and their specific health risks. While there is a positive shift as medical schools increasingly are incorporating diversity and cultural competence training into their curriculum, more education on transgender and gender diverse patients is needed (ACLU, n.d.; Jewell & Petty, 2024; OCR, 2025b).
The American Nursing Association and the American College of Physicians (ACP) support inclusive public policies and oppose those that interfere with care, research, and education for the LGBTQIA community (McClendon, 2023; Serchen et al., 2024). The ACP's position paper (2024) outlines recommendations to decrease the discrimination in health care faced by members of the LGBTQIA community:
Table 1
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Other Sexual and Gender Minority Health Disparities: A Position Paper from the ACP
1. | The ACP recommends that gender identity and gender expression, which are independent and fundamentally different from sexual orientation, be included as part of nondiscrimination and antiharassment policies. The College encourages medical schools, hospitals, physicians' offices, other medical facilities, and employers to adopt gender identity and gender expression as part of their nondiscrimination and antiharassment policies. |
2. | The ACP recommends that public and private health benefit plans include comprehensive gender-affirming care and provide all covered services to transgender and gender-diverse persons as they would all other beneficiaries. |
3. | ACP supports access to evidence-based and clinically indicated gender-affirming care that is provided in line with the medically accepted standard of care using an informed consent model. a) ACP urges policymakers to uphold access to evidence-based health care services, care, resources, and information. ACP strongly opposes political considerations in determining medical standards of care such as through the use of state medical boards or other politically appointed positions in all levels of government. b) ACP opposes criminal and civil liability for physicians and other health professionals who provide or assist patients in obtaining evidence-based and clinically indicated gender-affirming care. |
4. | ACP supports additional research and scientific inquiry into gender-affirming care to improve care for transgender and gender-diverse people. |
5. | The ACP affirms the definition of “family” should be inclusive of those who maintain an ongoing emotional relationship with a person, regardless of their legal or biological relationship. |
6. | The ACP encourages all hospitals and medical facilities to allow all patients to determine who may visit and who may act on their behalf during their stay, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, and to ensure visitation policies are consistent with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation and The Joint Commission standards for Medicare-funded hospitals and critical-access hospitals. ACP urges hospitals and medical facilities to adopt policies that ensure all patients regardless of gender identity receive equal and timely access to care, a safe care environment, and the protection of patient privacy. |
7. | The ACP supports civil marriage rights for same-sex couples. The denial of such rights can have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of these persons and contribute to ongoing stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons and their families. |
8. | The ACP supports data collection and research into understanding the demographics of the LGBTQ+ population, historical and contemporary causes of LGBTQ+ health disparities, and best practices in reducing these disparities. ACP urges physicians, health care facilities, hospitals, public health entities, and policymakers institute these best practices once identified. |
9. | The ACP recommends medical schools, residency programs, and continuing medical education (CME) programs must incorporate LGBTQ+ health into their curricula, policies, and programs, with the goal of improving LGBTQ+ health and health care. Internal medicine physicians should be familiar with gender-affirming care and care standards to help connect patients with the appropriate specialty care. a) ACP supports full funding for medical education; training; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that does not impose funding restrictions or exclusions on the basis of their LGBTQ+ health educational and training offerings. b) ACP asserts institutional undergraduate medical education (UME) and CME funding policies should not restrict physicians in learning, teaching, or otherwise pursuing LGBTQ+ health education, research, and training. c) The College supports programs that would help recruit LGBTQ+ persons into the practice of medicine and programs that offer support to LGBTQ+ medical students, residents, and practicing physicians. |
10. | The ACP opposes practices that aim to change an LGBTQ+ person's sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression (i.e., “gender identity change efforts,” “conversion,” “reorientation,” or “reparative therapy”). |
11. | The ACP supports continued reviews of blood donation deferral policies and the development of non-discriminatory, evidence-based deferral policies that take into account a comprehensive assessment of the risk level of all individuals seeking to donate, which may result in varying deferral periods or a lengthened or permanent deferral on blood donation. ACP opposes a categorical restriction on blood donation from MSM and other people who have sex with MSM. |
12. | ACP asserts that all people should be able to live openly in a manner consistent with their sexual orientation and/or gender identity without discrimination or harassment. ACP affirms that public policies should protect the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and uphold one's ability to participate in public life as consistent with one's gender identity, including access to public facilities and activities, government services, and other basic human services and activities. a) ACP affirms the health benefits of participation in athletics and encourages participation and inclusion of all members of society in sports. ACP acknowledges that determinations for transgender athletes to participate in gender-segregated sports occurs infrequently and that broad policies may create unwarranted instances of discrimination. ACP encourages institutions to examine each case individually, taking into account the unique circumstances. ACP calls for additional quantitative research to better understand transgender athlete participation in gender-segregated athletics, with a focus at the highest competitive levels of each sport to ensure safety and fairness of play. |
13. | ACP opposes explicit restrictions on educational content that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. ACP encourages efforts to incorporate evidence-informed gender identity and sexual orientation education within society. |
(Serchen et al., 2024)
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