LGBT people and people living with HIV face particular health challenges and difficulties obtaining appropriate health care due to hostility and discrimination. The prejudicial attitudes found in society exist similarly among many health care providers, especially in settings affiliated with anti-LGBT religious denominations, with adverse effects on quality of care ranging from patient humiliation to compromised treatment to outright refusal to provide services.
In 2010, Lambda Legal released results from the first nationwide survey that examines health care discrimination experienced by LGBT people and people living with HIV.
LGBT people and those living with HIV can be especially vulnerable to breaches of confidentiality in medical settings, and to violations of their personal autonomy regarding sexual health, reproductive decisions, gender expression and transition-related care, HIV care and other matters. In addition to direct discrimination in provision of health care services, many LGBT people and people with HIV disproportionately face challenges due to lack of health insurance, which can be especially devastating for those already most vulnerable, such as those with limited income, less education and many seniors.
