This powerpoint is the final result of a project I completed for my LGBT & beyond course while enrolled at Florida International University.

1. HEALTHCARE ISSUES &
CONCERNS FOR LGBT
By Shannon Dalton & Annette
Dickey

2. HEALTHCARE STATISTICS
7 Billion People In The World
3.5% of adults in United States identify as
LGBT
.3% of adults identify as transgender
This Implies there are approximately 9
million LGBT Americans
A figure roughly equivalent to the population
of New Jersey

3. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
individuals often face challenges and
barriers to accessing health services and
as a result, can experience worse health
outcomes
Challenges include: Stigma,
discrimination, violence, rejection by
families and communities

4. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS
Sexual and gender minorities have many of
the same health concerns as the general
population they can experience certain
health challenges at high rates and also
face several unique health care challenges
The LGBT community has more chronic
conditions as well as higher risk of early
onset disabilities than heterosexuals

5. CHALLENGES & BARRIERS
Other Barriers: Inequality in the workplace
and health insurance sectors, provision of
substandard care and outright denial of
care because of an individuals sexual
orientation or gender identity
Additional barriers include gaps in
coverage, cost-related hurdles, and poor
treatment from health care providers who
are not culturally sensitive.

7. CATEGORIES FOR LGBT HEALTHCARE
ISSUES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
CANCER
SEXUALLY TRANSMISSTED
DISEASES
HIV / AIDS

8. PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS &
ISSUES FOR LGBT
LESBIANS / BI SEXUAL WOMEN
 Obesity is more commonly found among
lesbians who are African American, live in rural
or urban areas, lower levels of education and
low socio economic status
 Not sufficiently physically active
 Not having a physical fitness partner
 Lack of finding lesbian focused activity groups
 Lacking same sex memberships to fitness
facilities

9. PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS &
ISSUES FOR LGBT
GAY MEN / BI SEXUALS
 Problems with body image are more common
among gay men.
 Gay men are much more likely to experience an
eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia.
 Pressures of body image can lead to the use of
substances such as anabolic steroids and other
harmful supplements.
 Obesity can also affect many gay men and can
lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart
disease.

10. PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS &
ISSUES FOR LGBT
TRANSGENDER
 Lack of hormone therapy can affect their overall
fitness goals.
 Fitness venues not providing appropriate
bathrooms and locker room facilities for
transgender people.
 Working on your fitness to portray the sex you
are identifying as to be socially accepted.
 EX: Trans women walking in heels need to be
graceful

11. MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS & ISSUES
FOR LGBT
LESBIANS / BI SEXUAL WOMEN
 Sexual minority women are at a higher risk of
depression and anxiety.
 If left untreated depression can lead to risky
sexual behavior, and a downward spiral of
emotional behavioral and even legal and
financial problems.
 Lesbians and bi sexual women are more likely to
have suicidal thoughts than heterosexual
women.
 Lesbians and bi sexual women are more prone
to physical abuse in their relationships.

12. MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS & ISSUES
FOR LGBT
GAY MEN/ BI SEXUAL MEN
 Gay men and bi sexual men are at risk for higher
rates of recurrent major depression.
 Risks of depression and anxiety among gay men
and bi sexual men were at least one and a half times
higher than heterosexuals.
 Bipolar disorder can also be serious mental health
issues for gay men and bi sexual men.
 The Stonewall 2012 Survey discovered that 3% of
gay men and 5% of bisexual men had attempted to
take their own life, compared to only 0.4% of men in
general.

13. MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS & ISSUES
FOR LGBT
TRANSGENDER
 There can be isolation, hiding and secrets, which can
lead to depression and anxiety.
 50% of transgender adults have reported
experiencing suicidal thoughts.
 Two paths that transgender people take early on:
either one tries to hide their inner feeling of being the
wrong sex and “passes” for what looks like a boy or
girl, or one is incapable of hiding and presents as
either a tom-boyish girl or a feminine boy. Either path
leads to problems for one’s emotional development.

14. MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS & ISSUES
FOR LGBT
YOUTH
 LGBT youth grades 7-12 were 2 times more
likely to have attempted suicide compared to
their heterosexual peers.
 Youth questioning sexual orientation are more
likely to be bullied, experience homophobic
victimization, unexcused absences from school,
drug abuse, depression more so than their
heterosexual peers.

15. MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS & ISSUES
FOR LGBT

16. SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONCERNS &
ISSUES FOR LGBT
The oppression and discrimination that these
communities have faced has forced them to rely on
bars as safe havens. Therefore, alcohol abuse has
been an ongoing problem in the community.
In general LGBT are 70% more likely than the general
population to smoke cigarettes.

17. SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONCERNS &
ISSUES FOR LGBT
LESBIANS / BI SEXUAL WOMEN
 28% of gay women smoke compared to 14% of straight
women
 Lesbian women are more likely to have 2 or more alcoholic
beverages a day
GAY MEN / BI SEXUAL MEN
 Studies over the past decade suggest that gay men
and bi sexual men smoke tobacco at high rates than
men in the general US population.
 Culturally sensitive services targeted to gay men are
important in successful prevention and treatment
programs.

18. SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONCERNS &
ISSUES FOR LGBT
TRANSGENDER
 Consumption of alcohol while on hormone
therapy can be very dangerous when taken
together.
 It increases the risk of liver damage.
 Risks of heart attack and stroke are increased in
people who smoke tobacco and take estrogen or
testosterone.
 Estimated 30% of transgender people abuse
substances, compared to just 9% of the general
population.

19. CANCER CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
LESBIANS / BI SEXUAL WOMEN
 Studies have found that lesbians and bisexual
women have higher rates of breast cancer than
heterosexual women.
 Lesbians and bi sexual women are less likely to
get routine screenings such as pap test and
mammograms which are critical for the early
detection of breast, cervical, and other cancers
found among all women. Some of the reasons for
this include:
 Limited health coverage
 Fear of discrimination
 Negative experience with health care
providers

20. CANCER CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
LESBIANS / BI SEXUAL WOMEN
 They are at significant higher risk for
developing breast cancer for two reasons.
 Lesbians and bi sexual women have been
less likely to bear children and as a result
they may not fully benefit from hormones
released during pregnancy and breast
feeding.
 Women that do not breast feed are more
exposed to estrogen and therefore, can
develop breast cancer.

21. CANCER CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
GAY MEN / BI SEXUAL MEN
 Gay and bi sexual men are less likely to get
routine screenings which are critical for the
early detection of prostate, lung, colon,
testicular and other cancers found among all
men. Some of the reasons for this include:
 Limited health coverage
 Fear of discrimination
 Negative experience with health care
providers
 Smoking is responsible for 80% of all lung
cancers therefore since gay men smoke
more they are at higher risk.

22. STD CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
LESBIAN / BI SEXUAL WOMEN
 The risk of sexually transmitting HIV between
women is low.
 However lesbians and bi sexual women have the
risk of getting HIV and many other STDS such
as herpes, genital warts, chlamydia, syphilis, and
have a higher risk of hepatitis B/C.
 For lesbians and bi sexual women penetrative
sex toys can also spread infections.

23. STD CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
GAY MEN / BI SEXUAL MEN
 In 2012 gay and bi sexual men accounted for
75% of primary and secondary syphilis cases in
the US.
 Gay and bi sexual men are often diagnosed with
other STDS including chlamydia and gonorrhea
infections.
 HPV is the most common STD in the US and is a
big concern for gay and bi sexual men.

24. STD CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
GAY MEN / BI SEXUAL MEN
 Some types of HPV can cause genital and anal
warts and some can lead to the development of
anal and oral cancer.

25. HIV & AIDS CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
 Thanks to the affordable care act the ACA eliminated
pre existing condition limitations that have prevented
many HIV-positive individuals from accessing private
insurance.
 According to the CDC in 2010 a lifetime of HIV
treatment was estimated at $379,668.
 Gay and bisexual men and other MSM are only 2% of
the population but account for 63% of all new HIV
infections.

26. HIV & AIDS CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT

27. HIV & AIDS CONCERNS & ISSUES FOR
LGBT
 Transgender women are at higher risk for HIV
infection, black/ African American transgender women
have the highest percentage of new HIV-positive test
results.

28. IN CONCLUSION
Now that we’ve shared this information with
you all we wanted to know what you found
interesting or anything that stood out for
you?