LBTQ Health Equity Initiative

About

In recent years, the push for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data collection has intensified, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which highlighted the critical gaps in SOGI data. While laws mandating SOGI data collection are now in place, the infrastructure and understanding needed to implement these mandates remain insufficient among health data professionals. Without resolving these underlying issues, the mandates become difficult to enact. This deficiency directly impacts funding and services available to LGBTQ+ individuals across California.

Why just 'LBTQ'?

In particular, the Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LBTQ) community members—especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals—face significant barriers to accessing healthcare due to a longstanding mistrust of medical providers. This mistrust often leads to delays in care, resulting in increased late-stage cancer diagnoses. Unfortunately, cancer registries at the state and federal levels do not track cases by SOGI identities due to the lack of data collected within medical care settings. This lack of information has significant consequences, as studies have shown LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer than their heterosexual and cisgender peers, often due to discrimination and bias within healthcare.

The LBTQ Health Equity Initiative aims to tackle these issues in Southern California’s Cancer Care clinics and, in partnership with the Southern California Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) chapter, will create broader training for health data professionals. Ensuring SOGI data collection is essential for expanding competent, affirming care for LBTQ communities.

LBTQ launch webinar flyer (1)

In case you missed the Launching Inclusive Cancer Care: The LBTQ SOGI Data Initiative webinar - the recording is now on our YouTube!  

In the webinar:

  • Learn about the goals of the LBTQ Health Equity Initiative and ways to get involved
  • Explore how SOGI+ Data collection drives healthcare equity
  • Hear from thought leaders in healthcare IT, advocacy, and clinical fields.
  • Q&A from attendees

Important
Legislation

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Useful
Resources

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Transfeminine and non-binary colleagues talking in an office (2)