Skye Metzer
- Jul 20, 2022
- 6 min
1530
People in the LGBTQIA+ community face disproportionate health risks and uneven access to health care services. Largely due to systemic discrimination and lack of access to relevant health education, people in the LGBTQIA+ community are:
More likely to be in need of mental health services
At higher risk of contracting HIV & STIs
Less likely to seek preventative services for cancer
Additionally, LGBTQIA+ individuals are less likely to seek medical care due to:
Lower levels of insurance coverage & higher rates of poverty
Lack of access to competent and affirming care
Fear of stigma and discrimination, often based off of negative experiences
The LGBTQIA+ community has many distinct health care needs and deserves to have access to informed and affirming care.
For many trans and nonbinary people, accessing gender affirming health care carries its own slew of barriers, especially for those living in rural or under-resourced areas.
Many intersex individuals have also faced traumatic medical experiences and discrimination, especially when it comes to involuntary medical interventions performed on intersex children.
People living with HIV may be required to frequently attend doctor's appointments to obtain antiretroviral therapy. Telehealth can make these appointments more accessible and sustainable.
LGBT Tech's Chris Wood joins Health Innovation Alliance to discuss the increased need to make telehealth services as widespread and available as possible in order to keep underserved communities connected to the care and support they need, and to address the overall barriers that are in place that prevent universal adoption of this important service.
*LGBT Tech does not warrant or represent any of the listed companies and they are listed purely for informational purposes without any endorsement or affiliation