Members of the LGBTQ+ community face elevated risks for health problems and have less access to healthcare than the general population. One of the factors impeding LGBTQ+ people’s access to healthcare is the widespread lack of cultural awareness among healthcare providers. (7, 12-15)

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Many LGBTQ+ individuals have reported negative interactions with clinicians, often due to clinicians' lack of cultural awareness and lack of knowledge of LGBTQ+ health issues. Some individuals avoid seeking healthcare for fear of receiving inadequate care, which exacerbates the health disparities that they face. (7)

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Healthcare providers, educators, and students can help to reduce these disparities by seeking

cultural awareness training for themselves and their coworkers.

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This page last updated: 2018