39417 Understanding Gender Minorities

Course overview

Discusses the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity; how to communicate with gender minorities using appropriate labels, pronouns, and descriptors; and terms commonly used when discussing gender minority groups. The lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is very diverse, and individuals in these populations are subject to stigmatization, discrimination, and multiple health disparities. While progress has been made regarding legal rights and changing social attitudes, individuals in this population have long experienced discrimination and a lack of awareness of health needs by healthcare professionals. Because of this, gender minority populations face challenges in receiving culturally competent health care services, and often refrain from revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity to their healthcare provider. The Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 initiative outlines the health disparities commonly seen in the LGBT population, and has called for steps to address these disparities. This program provides an introduction to gender minorities, including defining commonly used terms used in describing this population in order for healthcare professionals to provide more culturally-competent and sensitive care for these individuals.