Sexual Minorities, Health Issues of

Carey V. Johnson & Matthew J. Mimiaga

The health of sexual minorities represents a broad and rapidly expanding area of public health research and concern. Encompassing people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), sexual minorities are diverse populations who have struggled with issues of sexuality, identity, and gender amidst historic and continuing stigma, fear, and discrimination. Consequently, while possessing the same basic health needs as the general population, LGBT people face additional health issues related to social discrimination, behavioral risk factors, and unique medical conditions. The diversity of these populations spans race, ethnicity, age, education, socioeconomic position, geography, political affiliation, and the degree to which individuals identify and interact with other LGBT people. From all indications, sexual minorities exist wherever there are human societies. This entry examines health outcomes among LGBT people, including the impact of disparities in their access to health care. It also discusses methodological issues related to research on these populations. Over ...

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