The Center for American Progress (CAP), a think tank “dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through ideas and action,” has issued a report on disparities in health care between non-trans, heterosexual people and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people in the United States.
The report, “How to Close the LGBT Health Disparities Gap,” has found that: “(M)embers of the LGBT population continue to experience worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts. Due to factors like low rates of health insurance coverage, high rates of stress due to systematic harassment and discrimination, and a lack of cultural competency in the health care system, LGBT people are at a higher risk for cancer, mental illnesses, and other diseases, and are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs, and engage in other risky behaviors. People who are both LGBT and members of a racial or ethnic minority will often face the highest level of health disparities.”
Many of the statistics presented are based on data collected through the California Health Interview Study (CHIS). According to CAP, CHIS is one of the very few comprehensive, ongoing state-level health surveys that regularly collects information on sexual orientation.
CAP states that no national government surveys include questions related to gender identity or expression, and Massachusetts is the only state that CAP found to include a question on gender identity in a government health survey.
Therefore, findings with regard to transgender people are limited, but include the following:
- 57 percent of transgender adults have health insurance coverage, compared to 77 percent of LGB adults and 82 percent of non-trans, heterosexual adults.
- 67 percent report excellent or very good overall health, compared to 77 percent of LGB adults and 83 percent of non-trans, straight adults.
- 50 percent are likely to have suicidal ideation, compared to 5 percent of LGB adults and 2 percent of non-trans, straight adults.
However, transgender people are slightly less likely to have problems with alcoholism or to smoke cigarettes than LGB or non-trans, straight adults, according to the limited data available.
When race and ethnicity are figured into the mix, disparities are found for LGB people of color, although little to no information is available on health disparities for transgender people of color.
Every new year brings the possibility for change. CAP makes recommendations with regard to closing the health-care gap for LGBT people. Read the full report and CAP’s recommendations here.
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