LGBTQ+

Suggestions for Clinicians:

  • Set up an environment that is welcoming for people who are LGBTQ (Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, 2006):
    • Posters displaying same-sex couples that are racially and ethnically diverse.
    • Display symbols of rainbow flags, pink triangles, and other LGBTQ-friendly symbols.
    • Post a non-discrimination policy statement saying that equal care will be provided regardless of personal characteristics
  • Patient forms and occupational profile interview
    • Ask clients for preferred gender pronouns
    • For gender, include options of male, female, transgender, and other
    • Ask about relationship status rather than marital status
      • Use gender-neutral terms such as partner, spouse, or significant other
      • Include relationship status options of single, married, domestic partnership, civil unions, partnered, involved with multiple partners, separated, divorced and other
    • Ask clients to define any terms you are unfamiliar with
    • Reflect the client's language when they refer to characteristics about themselves
    • LGBTQ+ people may reclaim derogatory words to refer to themselves, but even if they use these words, it is not acceptable for a healthcare provider to use these
  • If asking about sexual activity, use open-ended questions and do not make assumptions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). For example, these are some questions that may be appropriate to ask if sexual activity is a topic that is being discussed:
    • Do you have sex with men, women, or both?
    • Do you have oral, vaginal, or anal sex?

Relevant Definitions:

  • Ally: Not LGBTQ, but promotes equality (Human Rights Campaign, n. d.)
  • Androgynous: Does not identify or present as male or female
  • Asexual: No sexual attraction or desire
  • Bisexual: Emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender, or gender identity. This does not imply that the attractions are equal.
  • Cisgender: Gender identity aligns with sex assigned at birth
  • Gay: Emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to the same sex, gender, or gender identity.
  • Gender dysphoria: Clinically significant distress caused by gender identity and assigned sex not matching
  • Gender-expansive: flexible range of gender identity beyond binary system
  • Gender expression: External representation of an inividual's gender identity, seen through behavior and clothing
  • Gender-fluid: No identification with a single fixed gender
  • Gender non-conforming: Anyone who does not conform to typical societal expectations of their gender
  • Genderqueer: May not align with the male or female categories, embrace a fluid notion of gender
  • Intersex: Natural body variations that do not clearly align with male or female sexes
  • Lesbian: Female who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to the same sex, gender, or gender identity.
  • LGBTQ: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
  • Non-binary: Does not identify as male or female
  • Pansexual: Emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to people of any gender
  • Queer: May be used interchangeably with LGBTQ
  • Questioning: Currently exploring sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Sex assigned at birth: Sex assigned to a child at birth based on genital anatomy
  • Sexual orientation: Emotionally, romantically, or sexually attraction to other people
  • Transgender: Gender identity does not align with sex assigned at birth

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, February 29). Gay and bisexual men's health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/professional-resources.htm

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. (2006). Guidelines for care of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. Retrieved from http://glma.org/_data/n_0001/resources/live/GLMA%20guidelines%202006%20FINAL.pdf

Human Rights Campaign. (n. d.). Glossary of terms. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms