An Introduction to Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender
Issues in Public Health

Agenda
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Common terms
Issues unique to LGBT people
Data and risk factors
Challenges
Strategies for interventions
Conclusion

Presentation Objectives
 Participants will be able to define the acronym LGBT and each component.
 Participants will be able to list at least two unique risk factors that exist for LGBT people.
 Participants will be able to name two public health considerations specific to LGBT people.

Terms and definitions
 Terms are always changing
 Self definition
 LGBT

LGBT- An Umbrella Term
 Dissecting the acronym LGBT
 Sexual orientation vs gender identity

Sexual Orientation
 Lesbian -
A woman or girl whose attraction is to the same sex
 Gay –
A man or boy whose attraction is to people of the same sex
 Bisexual –
A person whose attraction is to people of either sex

Gender Identity
 Transgender-
A term used to describe someone whose gender identity falls outside of the stereotypical gender norm

The Transgender Umbrella Defined
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Transgender
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Transexual
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Crossdresser
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Intersex
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Drag performers
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Gender bender, androgyne, gender queer

LGBT in the United States
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What images do people have?
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What were you taught about LGBT people?
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Not a monolithic experience!
 What can shape an LGBT person’s experience?

 What do you think it is like to come out?
 Who would an LGBT person come out to?

Feelings Behaviors
 Isolated
 Scared
 Anger
 Stress
 Relief
 Uncertainty
 Depressed
 Leave home/ forced homelessness
 Drop out of school
 Increase drug and alcohol use/ abuse
 Self inflicted violence
 Suicidal ideation and attempts

In the Public Health Context
 Considerations for LGBT people

A Snapshot of LGBT People in the
Medical Institution
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1869The word “homosexual” is invented
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1949: Hormone treatment for transsexuals
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1973: Homosexuality is removed from the DSM
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1996: Shock therapy, conversion therapy
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2011: Gender Identity Disorder still in DSM

Health Disparities by Population
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Lesbian and bisexual women
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Gay and bisexual men
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Transgender people

Barriers to adequate healthcare
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Lack of legal protections
Sporadic inclusive policies
Invisibility
Historic experiences
Limited insurance coverage
Lack of competent providers

Barriers continued
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Limited funding for improving LGBT outcomes
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Inadequate data collection efforts

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LGBT as a protective factor
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Many LGBT people have high social capital
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Visibility is increasing in medical/academic field

This presentation was designed in Spring 2011 by Curran Saile, Program Director of the Pride
Center of the Capital Region done in partial completion of Masters in Public Health requirements at the University at Albany
School of Public Health. The project would not have been possible without the support of
Mary Applegate, Jennifer Manganello, Cheryl
Reeves and the Pride Center of the Capital
Region.

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