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STRENGTHENING HEALTH EQUITY IN LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES
Health disparities—the differences in health outcomes across specific populations—are linked with economic, social and environmental factors. The LGBTQ+ community faces unique barriers when accessing the health care system, which impacts both preventive and essential care. This can result in disparities in cancer risk and treatment for LGBTQ+ people. That’s why the Prevent Cancer Foundation is committed to supporting projects dedicated to healthy equity by increasing cancer prevention and early detection in LGBTQ+ communities.
In December 2021, we announced a new partnership with the National LGBT Cancer Network to offer current and past Foundation-funded community grantees a learning intensive focused on addressing LGBTQ+ health equity and improving understanding of how to engage and include LGBTQ+ populations in community cancer prevention and education.
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This January, we kicked off our first learning intensive, Strengthening Health Equity in LGBTQ+ Communities, where participants learned about gender identity and sexual orientation; LGBTQ+ demographics and data collection; community barriers to cancer prevention, screening and care; and strategies to implement change through best and promising practices.
What can your health care or patient advocacy organization do to promote health equity for the LGBTQ+ population? Start by investing time and resources in building support for cancer screening and control in LGBTQ+ communities. You can “build welcome” by:
• Thinking about the language you use in educational resources, websites and physical spaces
• Displaying inclusive materials, non-discrimination policies, and rainbow and transgender flags
• Including the option to share pronouns on staff badges
• Providing gender-inclusive restrooms
These steps can help create a welcoming environment and eliminate some of the barriers that keep LGBTQ+ people from accessing the preventive services and care they need.
For more information on building welcome, visit cancer-network.org/welcoming-space.
