Some lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people face an increased risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The increased risk of HV and STIs in these populations stems from both social and biological factors.Health center clinicians can help address HIV and STIs among LGBTQ people by screening appropriately based on a comprehensive sexual history, providing culturally appropriate safer sex counseling, and offering biomedical prevention strategies, such as vaccinations and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HV (PrEP).
Learning Resources — Publications
Recruiting, Training, and Retaining LGBTQ-Proficient Clinical Providers: A Workforce Development Toolkit
As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people increasingly access care at health centers, the clinical workforce needs to be prepared to meet the unique health needs of LGBTQ patients. Finding LGBTQ-proficient providers, however, can present a challenge, especially outside major metropolitan areas.
- Filed under
- Organizational Change
Recognizing and Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Relationships of LGBTQ People: A Primer for Health Centers
In this publication we discuss how to identify and discuss intimate partner violence (IPV) in sexual and gender minority communities. Intimate partner violence is defined and the particular circumstances that impact IPV within sexual and gender minority communities is addressed. We provide guidance on how to talk with patients who may be experiencing IPV, and offer resources for helping sexual and gender minorities in unsafe relationships.
- Filed under
- Behavioral Health
- Reproductive Health
Creating a Transgender Health Program at Your Health Center
In this guide, we provide a framework for building a health program for transgender and gender diverse patients at your health center. There is no "one size fits all" approach to this work, but there are certain building blocks from which to create your own program that supports the gender diverse people in your community.
- Filed under
- Organizational Change
- Transgender Health
Suicide Risk and Prevention for LGBTQ Patients
This publication offers a brief summary of what is known about suicidal behavior and risk among LGBTQ people, followed by information and resources for health centers to help both young and old LGBTQ people get support and tap into internal and community resilience.
- Filed under
- Behavioral Health
- LGBTQIA+ Children and Youth
Learning to Address Implicit Bias Towards LGBTQ Patients: Case Scenarios
A primary objective for health care professionals is to establish solid, trusting relationships with patients in order to promote healthier behaviors. As with other minority groups, when working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, it is especially important to build rapport as a way to counteract the exclusion, discrimination, and stigma that many have experienced previously in health care. Despite our best intentions, however, internal --or implicit--biases may affect the way we talk to and behave with patients. For health care professionals, biases can lead to inequitable care, either through biased clinical decisions, or through communicating bias in conversation with patients.
- Filed under
- Introduction to LGBTQIA+ Health
Fact Sheet: Transgender Health and Medical-Legal Partnerships
This fact sheet describes common social and legal needs that affect the health of transgender individuals, and ways integrated legal services can help meet those needs. It examines medical-legal partnership programs at three health care organizations and how they operate, and it shares stories of people benefiting from medical-legal partnership services.
- Filed under
- Organizational Change
- Transgender Health
Addressing Opioid Use Disorder among LGBTQ Populations
This brief discusses the impact that opioid use disorder has on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. It will highlight best practices, trauma-informed care and behavioral health integration into primary care.
- Filed under
- Behavioral Health
Caring for Transgender People with Severe Mental Illness
Transgender people, like the general population, can suffer from a variety of common and rare severe mental health illnesses (SMI). This brief will cover recommendations on caring for this high-risk population.
- Filed under
- Behavioral Health
- Transgender Health
Addressing Eating Disorders, Body Dissatisfaction, and Obesity Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people experience higher rates of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and obesity compared to the general population. In this clinical brief, primary care and behavioral health providers will discover how these issues manifest in different subgroups of SGM adolescents and young adults, and will learn ways to address these conditions using affirming and effective treatments.
