Demand that California continue to fund $15 million for the LBTQ Health Equity Fund to prioritize the health of LBTQ people.
Lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women, non-binary and transgender-identified people with uteruses have for far too long been invisible in healthcare settings despite significant health disparities. This population has historically faced significant barriers to accessing health care, including anti-LGBTQ bias and insufficient access to culturally appropriate care, particularly for preventive services like mammography and other cancer screenings. Further, few funding sources exist that specifically target LBQ women and trans men, and there is currently an alarming lack of medical services and research tailored to the medical needs of LBTQ people with uteruses.
LBQ women are an underserved population and compared to cisgender heterosexual women, LBQ women experience many health disparities across their lifespan. Important factors that affect LBQ women’s access to health care include experiences of discrimination, higher rates of poverty (especially among bisexual women and women of color, and lack of access to effective, culturally appropriate healthcare options tailored for LBQ patients, which includes lack of knowledge and comfort regarding transgender care. Nearly 46% of lesbians and bisexual women report experiencing discrimination in healthcare, and 34% of LGBT physicians report observing discriminatory care of an LGBT patient. It is time for California legislators to prioritize LBTQ persons’ health.
Demand that California continue to fund $15 million for the LBTQ Health Equity Fund to prioritize the health of LBTQ people.
Lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women, non-binary and transgender-identified people with uteruses have for far too long been invisible in healthcare settings despite significant health disparities. This population has historically faced significant barriers to accessing health care, including anti-LGBTQ bias and insufficient access to culturally appropriate care, particularly for preventive services like mammography and other cancer screenings. Further, few funding sources exist that specifically target LBQ women and trans men, and there is currently an alarming lack of medical services and research tailored to the medical needs of LBTQ people with uteruses.
LBQ women are an underserved population and compared to cisgender heterosexual women, LBQ women experience many health disparities across their lifespan. Important factors that affect LBQ women’s access to health care include experiences of discrimination, higher rates of poverty (especially among bisexual women and women of color, and lack of access to effective, culturally appropriate healthcare options tailored for LBQ patients, which includes lack of knowledge and comfort regarding transgender care. Nearly 46% of lesbians and bisexual women report experiencing discrimination in healthcare, and 34% of LGBT physicians report observing discriminatory care of an LGBT patient. It is time for California legislators to prioritize LBTQ persons’ health.