Differences in health care access and satisfaction across intersections of race/ethnicity and sexual identity

Population-based health studies demonstrate that sexual minorities (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual persons) have less access to health care services than their heterosexual counterparts. For example, sexual minorities are more likely than heterosexuals to delay or forgo necessary medical care and to not have a regular health care provider. Research suggests that these disparities can be attributed to negative experiences when sexual minorities use health services (e.g., discrimination) and issues with sexual identity disclosure to providers. Similarly, racial/ethnic minorities experience poorer access to health care compared with White individuals. Studies posit that these health and health care disparities exist and persist due to the historic and present-day economic, social, and medical inequalities experienced by racial/ethnic minorities. Albeit limited, the literature on sexual minorities of color demonstrates that they experience multiple disadvantages to accessing health care compared with heterosexuals and White sexual minorities. (author introduction) #HES4A