The National LGBT Health Education Center provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people.
Healthy People 2020 and the Institute of Medicine Report: The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People emphasize that health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people occur across the life cycle. For example:
- LGBTQ youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide and are more likely to be homeless.
- Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men account for 64% of new cases of HIV, and are at high risk for other STDs.
- In 2006-2009, there was a 48% increase in new HIV cases among Black men who have sex with men.
- Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer and 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 LGBTQ individuals face additional barriers to health because of isolation and a lack of social services and culturally competent providers.
- LGBTQ populations have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.
These health disparities are linked to a long history of stigma and discrimination for LGBTQ people, but can be addressed with increased training of health care providers, and with more research on these populations. Our goal is to make health care services more welcoming to LGBTQ people, and to assure that all patients receive sensitive and appropriate preventive, medical, and behavioral health care.
Distance Learning
We offer online training covering many LGBTQ health topics. Most of our live and on-demand webinars and learning modules offer free CME/CEU, downloadable content, and other resources. The trainings and materials on this website are organized by topic area from Introduction to LGBT Health, to Transgender Health, to LGBT People of Color, and more!
Training and Technical Assistance
We provides individualized technical assistance (TA) to health care organizations ready to take LGBTQ health to the next level. Our TA focuses on helping organizations assess their readiness for change, train their staff in core LGBTQ concepts, and operationalize strategies for creating welcoming and inclusive environments for their LGBTQ patients.
Transgender Health ECHO
Through the use of the groundbreaking Project ECHO model, and web-based video conferencing technology, your health center will work alongside other health centers to create systems of care that support your transgender and gender non-conforming patients. Transgender Health ECHO is an opportunity for your health center to learn from experts and apply those learnings to increase the availability of culturally-responsible, comprehensive primary care for transgender people.
Publications
We have published briefs, journal articles, toolkits, and a textbook to support the improvement of LGBTQ health through clinical and organizational change. Most of our publications are available for free and can be downloaded from this website.
Conferences
Each year we host two national conferences as accredited courses through Harvard Medical School. In the fall, we host Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health and in the spring we host Advancing Excellence in Sexual and Gender Minority Heatlh.
Speaking Engagements
Since 2009, we have been presenting Grand Rounds to academic medical centers as well as community hospitals on how to eliminate LGBTQ health disparities through clinical education and administrative change.
We also present at conferences around the country and around the world.
To request a speaker at your event, please fill out the form.
Resources
Take a look at our list of recommended readings and resources on LGBTQ health topics.
