Sexual gender minority individuals also experience health care barriers due to isolation, insufficient social services, and a lack of culturally competent providers. The LGBT populations experience personal and structural barriers that interfere with their ability to access high-quality care. Due to their transgender status, 19% were denied care, and 28% postponed care due to perceived harassment and violence within a health care setting. Discrimination was frequently experienced in accessing health care. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey of 6,450 transgender and nonconforming participants also provides extensive data on the challenges faced by transgender individuals.

3– 6 In addition, LGBT populations have high rates of use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. 3 Lesbians and bisexual women are less likely to get preventive cancer screenings, such as Pap smears and mammograms, and have higher incidences of HIV, hepatitis C, self-reported gonorrhea, and are more likely to be overweight or obese. According to the CDC, gay men are at highest risk and have increased incidences of gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV), and HIV.