Across the country, schools, colleges and universities are wrestling with questions involving the growing LGBTQ+ population. In many states, new laws have created a wide array of rules to prevent schools from discussing certain issues related to gender identity or sexuality.
Meanwhile, in others, educating students about issues such as LGBTQ+ history has been built into curricula. Indeed, educational institutions can serve as a crucial lifeline for LGBTQ+ Americans.
At M Booth Health, where we focus on health communications and consulting, we undertook a study exploring how LGBTQ+ Americans navigate health decisions. Our findings indicate that health agencies and organizations need to reach members of LGBTQ+ communities in schools with important health information.
The discrimination that LGBTQ+ Americans face in the traditional health care system has been widely documented, with many reporting that they have been denied care altogether. Just like members of other marginalized groups such as members of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities, LGBTQ+ Americans have learned not to put faith in traditional health entities when they’re looking for information and guidance.
We surveyed more than 2,500 American adults, nearly 400 of whom self-identified as LGBTQ+. Of these LGBTQ+ respondents, nearly half (44%) told us they do not include health care providers as a top source of health information. Where do they turn instead? They have curated groups of people whom they trust. We call these “chosen circles,” which include family, friends, online influencers and, interestingly, therapists. More than a quarter (28%) told us they consult mental health therapists in making health care decisions.
Learning about health in schools. We were especially struck by how many LGBTQ+ respondents told us they turn to schools for health information. Seventeen percent said they have had conversations about their health at school – nearly twice the rate of non-LGBTQ+ Americans.
And among Gen Z LGBTQ+ Americans specifically, one-third (34%) rank schools as one of the top three most important channels for health information outside of health care settings. (The other two are workplaces and neighborhood community centers.) Less than a quarter (24%) of non-LGBTQ+ Gen Z respondents said the same.
All people need relevant, inclusive health information in order to make the best decisions – decisions that can even save their lives. More than a quarter (27%) of LGBTQ+ respondents told us that they have gotten sick in the past 12 to 18 months because they did not have the health information they needed.
To be clear, this extends far beyond treatments focused on issues such as gender-affirming care and sexual health. LGBTQ+ Americans are more likely to suffer from all sorts of common illnesses because of a lack of health information in general. So making sure that they can get this information at schools is essential.
There’s also another reason that schools are so important: They are home to disproportionately large LGBTQ+ populations. While an estimated 7% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, at colleges and universities that figure rises to 17%. And in high schools, about 1 in 4 students identify as LGBTQ+.
Health entities and their role. Government health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and other organizations must include outreach through schools to whatever extent they can. They should work with educational institutions to offer materials and programs about a wide range of health issues. Educators can also play an important role in delivering relevant health information that fosters greater well-being and better outcomes.
In offering health information anywhere – from schools to social media to market campaigns and more – these entities should focus on inclusivity. Create and distribute content that is specifically designed to represent and reach diverse LGBTQ+ communities, and have members of those communities present the information. Forty-three percent of LGBTQ+ respondents told us they would be more likely to trust health information if it was delivered by a member of their community.
It also helps for such organizations to reflect the LGBTQ+ community – and any others they may serve. More than a third (36%) of LGBTQ+ respondents told us that in making health decisions, they want opinions from people who share their identity – whether it be race, gender or sexual orientation – in some way.
Communication goes both ways. The more health professionals build bridges with LGBTQ+ Americans, the more they learn from them. LGBTQ+ Americans are active and engaged consumers of health information. By working together, schools, health agencies and organizations can help to rectify problems caused by health care discrimination and improve well-being in LGBTQ+ communities.
