Let’s Encourage LGBTGEQIAP+ Health Equity Optimism

Regarding LGBTGEQIAP+ health equity, we have an audacious opportunity to improve how data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted. In fact, in a May 2023 article, the Human Rights Campaign reported a record number of anti-LGBTGEQIAP+ bills (Peele, n.d.), which is essential because many of the institutions and organizations that seek to understand health equity are funded through governmental agencies whose budgets are approved by legislatures with budgetary approval. Thus, one could assume that much of the missing focus on the LGBTGEQIAP+ community among many of the top-ranking health equity establishments is adversely impacted by a continuation of bias against this growing community. 

Although the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health declared their commitment to improving data collection, the office concurs with the findings that a lack of data from this community impairs one’s ability to fully understand the extent to which health disparities impact the LGBGTEQIAP+ community. Furthermore, the office publicly acknowledges its lack of gender identity data (Improving data collection for the LGBT community, n.d.). It is through their future data collection activities that the LGBTGEQIAP+ community may benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of health disparities experienced by this population in the United States. 

Similarly, the American Public Health Association (APHA) offers limited information regarding LGBTGEQIAP+ health equity. Utilizing the search function to identify LGBTGEQIAP+ information, searched via LGBT and LGBTQ+, few articles returned focusing on health equity. The APHA’s LGBTQ Caucus, established in 1975, articulates its aims to focus on training, public health, and affirmation of the community. Yet, the caucus notes the limited LGBTGEQIAP+ programmatic lineup at the APHA annual meeting (LGBTQ Health Caucus, n.d.). 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2030, does well in articulating its goals to fortify health within the LGBTGEQIAP+ community. Yet, they articulate a narrow focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, which is insufficient for the entirety of the LGBTGEQIAP+ community. Additionally, their webpage offers a sample of 21 objectives: seven focused on adolescents, six focused on substance use, and five focused on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (LGBT, n.d.). While these are issues undoubtedly worthy of attention among the LGBTGEQIAP+ community, the focus nearly feels stereotypical and exclusive of consideration of the fact that all populations are included in the LGBTGEQIAP+ community, and as such, our health equity focus can extend beyond teens, substance misuse, and HIV. 

Finally, the National Institute on Health Disparities, whose mission is to reduce health disparities, also misses the opportunity to focus on this community. In an attempt to understand this institute’s work in partnership with the LGBTGEQIAP+ community, a site search was completed, and again, the results were underwhelming. In fact, 14 items returned when “LGBT” was entered into the search function. Four of the 14 items are dated from 2020 to the present. Conversely, when “African American” was used to search the site, 337 items were returned. The use of “Latino” produced 234 items. 

It remains clear that the organizations and institutions seeking to resolve health disparities and improve health equity have an incredible opportunity to do essential and extended research to understand better and support the entire LGBTGEQIAP+ population in the United States. To that end, by working to end LGBTGEQIAP+ health disparities, our leaders can reduce disparities in all communities since the LGBTGEQIAP+ community is inclusive of all populations. 

The good news is that the LGBTGEQIAP+ is building momentum by securing our legislative and social positions. Those of us who identify in this community have reason to be optimistic despite the legislative trials of late because these organizations are committing to us in ways unlike what we have seen in the past, regardless of the number of bills submitted to disable our health and well-being. As many setbacks as we have experienced, which are entirely too real for far too many of us, progress is also being made. Together, we can make health and healthcare work for everyone, and the LGBTGEQIAP+ community may be the key that opens the door to better health everywhere. 

References

- NIMHD Search Results. (n.d.). Usa.gov. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=nimhd&query=

Improving data collection for the LGBT community. (n.d.). Office of Minority Health. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/improving-data-collection-lgbt-community

LGBT. (n.d.). Health.gov. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/lgbt

LGBTQ Health Caucus. (n.d.). Apha.org. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://www.apha.org/APHA-Communities/Caucuses/LGBTQ-Health-Caucus

Peele, C. (n.d.). Roundup of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation advancing in states across the country. Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/roundup-of-anti-lgbtq-legislation-advancing-in-states-across-the-country