LGBTQ Discrimination Regarding Health Care

Everyone deserves to live a happy and healthy life - but those rights are slowly being stripped away from the LGBTQ. For a while, court cases and an Obama administration law protected the LGBTQ from discrimination and helped make sure they were treated equally, but no longer. Due to conservative forces and the Trump-Pence administration, it has become easy for health care providers to simply turn away people of the LGBTQ community and women as well.

These refusals and delays is putting people's lives at risk. In Michigan, an infant was not given care in a pediatric office due to her parents being of the same sex. In another case, a transgender teenager was admitted to a hospital for suicidal behavior and was misgendered the entire stay and then released early - resulting in him taking his life shortly after. Cases like these are unfortunately being seen more and more and it must be put to an end.

A survey conducted on lesbian, bisexual, gay, and queer people regarding their visits to a doctor wields shocking results. 8 percent said they were turned away, 9 percent said they were spoken to in a harsh or abusive manner, and 7 percent said they experienced unwanted physical contact (fondling, sexual assault, etc.). These numbers triple when it comes to transgenders: 29% were refused, 21% were spoken to in an aggressive manner, and 29% experienced unwanted physical contact. These statistics are enraging. The number of people being treated in this unfair and cynical way is absolutely horrible and jaw dropping.

This treatment, along with the idea of being discriminated against, is turning people away from even considering going to a doctor. One year prior to the survey, studies showed that 8% of LGBTQ members postponed or canceled needed appointments due to fear of what they would face when meeting with the hospital care staff.

The results of all of these studies and surveys is absolutely repulsive. Reading every quote, every percentage, and every victim's story is like a punch to the gut. The ridiculous treatments these people have received is depressing and disappointing. This discrimination is unnecessary. Whether or not you agree with how someone lives their life does not mean that person does not deserve to live it. Denying a person's treatment or doing a lackluster job is evil and should be against the law. Doctors are sworn to do no harm and help each patient to the best of their ability. Well guess what, refusing someone's treatment is damn well not the best of their ability.

Fortunately, it appears that some changes are being made. In December of 2016, a federal judge issued an injunction prohibiting the Human & Sex Services from enforcing discrimination on the basis of gender identity. There are a variety of doctors who are willing to help you with whatever you need. If you need aid finding a LGTBQ friendly doctor, click here. Hopefully these injustices are put to rest and everyone is able to get the care they need and deserve but for now we must fight back and call out every wrongdoing in order to guarantee a better future or all.