COMMON HEALTH ISSUES AMONG LGBT WOMEN
Even with the diversity of the community, there are common health issues affect LGBT women and the LGBT community as a whole. Overall, LGBT women face higher risks for the following health conditions: mental health illnesses, substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), heart disease, cancer, and violence. In regards to mental health, there are significantly higher rates of higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among LGBT people (Ard & Makadon, 2012). These increased rates have been linked to LGBT-related discrimination (Mays & Cochran, 2001). The rate of substance abuse among LGBT people is notably high as well. Compared to the general population, LGBT people are twice …show more content…
For example, LGBT women are less like to have had a recent mammogram or a papanicolaou test (Pap smear) compared to their heterosexual counterparts (Ard & Makadon, 2012). Higher rates of obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption among LGBT women also increase the risk of breast cancer (Cochran, 2001). This points to another need for more awareness for positive health behaviors that could reduce the risk of cancer because 14% of deaths among older women globally are caused by cancers (WHO, 2013). Getting community involvement in spreading awareness about cancer and the specific risks for LGBT women can help reduce the risk of cancer among the community, provide more support towards those already diagnosed with cancer, and possibly educate healthcare professionals on how to provide more inclusive health care.
Finally, there is the issue of violence as a major health issue among LGBT women. Violence is a global issue for women. LGBT women are more vulnerable to hate crime-related violence due to discrimination and marginalization related to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Intimate partner violence is a significant issue. Approximately, 35% of women worldwide having experienced intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence within their lifetime (WHO, 2013). Women in same-gender relationships …show more content…
In fact, the 28% prevalence among FTM transgender women in 2008 (Ard & Makadon, 2012). They are also at higher risks of violence, mental health issues, and suicide compared to other women (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016).Transgender women are also more likely to be affected by intimate partner abuse than their straight or LGB female peers (Ard & Makadon, 2012). There is also the issue of discrimination against transgender women to consider. Acts of violence and harassment towards transgender people are disproportionately higher than those towards non-transgender lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people. In a 2003 study of campus life in 14 educational institutions, 41% of the transgender participants reported harassment in the past year compared to the 28% of non-transgender lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people (Beemyn, 2004). The rates have gotten so high that transgender health experts have recommended that “violence and murder prevention” should be the top health priority for transgender people (Xavier et al., 2004 as cited in Clark, 2011). One of the most prominent issues of anti-transgender discrimination concerns the public use of bathrooms by transgender women. Transgender women often face harassment when using the women’s restroom (Beemyn, 2004). Harassment ranges from verbal harassment and intimidation to physical violence to even murder
Even with the diversity of the community, there are common health issues affect LGBT women and the LGBT community as a whole. Overall, LGBT women face higher risks for the following health conditions: mental health illnesses, substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), heart disease, cancer, and violence. In regards to mental health, there are significantly higher rates of higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among LGBT people (Ard & Makadon, 2012). These increased rates have been linked to LGBT-related discrimination (Mays & Cochran, 2001). The rate of substance abuse among LGBT people is notably high as well. Compared to the general population, LGBT people are twice …show more content…
For example, LGBT women are less like to have had a recent mammogram or a papanicolaou test (Pap smear) compared to their heterosexual counterparts (Ard & Makadon, 2012). Higher rates of obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption among LGBT women also increase the risk of breast cancer (Cochran, 2001). This points to another need for more awareness for positive health behaviors that could reduce the risk of cancer because 14% of deaths among older women globally are caused by cancers (WHO, 2013). Getting community involvement in spreading awareness about cancer and the specific risks for LGBT women can help reduce the risk of cancer among the community, provide more support towards those already diagnosed with cancer, and possibly educate healthcare professionals on how to provide more inclusive health care.
Finally, there is the issue of violence as a major health issue among LGBT women. Violence is a global issue for women. LGBT women are more vulnerable to hate crime-related violence due to discrimination and marginalization related to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Intimate partner violence is a significant issue. Approximately, 35% of women worldwide having experienced intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence within their lifetime (WHO, 2013). Women in same-gender relationships …show more content…
In fact, the 28% prevalence among FTM transgender women in 2008 (Ard & Makadon, 2012). They are also at higher risks of violence, mental health issues, and suicide compared to other women (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016).Transgender women are also more likely to be affected by intimate partner abuse than their straight or LGB female peers (Ard & Makadon, 2012). There is also the issue of discrimination against transgender women to consider. Acts of violence and harassment towards transgender people are disproportionately higher than those towards non-transgender lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people. In a 2003 study of campus life in 14 educational institutions, 41% of the transgender participants reported harassment in the past year compared to the 28% of non-transgender lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people (Beemyn, 2004). The rates have gotten so high that transgender health experts have recommended that “violence and murder prevention” should be the top health priority for transgender people (Xavier et al., 2004 as cited in Clark, 2011). One of the most prominent issues of anti-transgender discrimination concerns the public use of bathrooms by transgender women. Transgender women often face harassment when using the women’s restroom (Beemyn, 2004). Harassment ranges from verbal harassment and intimidation to physical violence to even murder