LGBT 101

1

• LGBT 101
• An Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
  Transgender Issues in Public Health

2
Agenda

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

3
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.

4
Terms and definitions

• Terms are always changing
• Self definition
• LGBT

5
LGBT- An Umbrella Term

• Dissecting the acronym LGBT
• Sexual orientation vs gender identity

6
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

7
Gender Identity

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

8
The Transgender Umbrella Defined

• Transgender
• Transexual
• Crossdresser
• Intersex
• Drag performers
• Gender bender, androgyne, gender queer

9
LGBT in the United States

• What images do people have?
• What were you taught about LGBT people?
• Not a monolithic experience!
• What can shape an LGBT persons experience?

10
Coming Out

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

11
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

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• In the Public Health Context
• Considerations for LGBT people

13

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

14
Health Disparities by Population

• Lesbian and bisexual women
• Gay and bisexual men
• Transgender people

15
Barriers to adequate healthcare

• Lack of legal protections
• Sporadic inclusive policies
• Invisibility
• Historic experiences
• Limited insurance coverage
• Lack of competent providers

16
Barriers continued

• Limited funding for improving LGBT outcomes
• Inadequate data collection efforts

17
The silver lining

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

18
Acknowledgements
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.
19
References

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• Finlon, Charles. Health Care for All Lesbian,
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20
References

• Makadon, Harvey J. Improving Health Care for the
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• Male-to-Female Transgender Individuals Building
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• 203-220.
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