Queering the ED: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer health in emergency medicine

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) community has made significant advances in recent years, yet disparities in health and healthcare access, treatment, and outcomes still persist. These disparities reflect a long history of structural stigma, discrimination, and violence targeted at sexual minorities, in which the healthcare system is complicit (Eckstrand et al., Trauma and resilience in the lives of people who are or may be LGBT, gender nonconforming, or born with DSD: implications for clinical care and health outcomes. Association for American Medical Colleges, 2014). In order to eliminate these disparities, emergency medicine providers (EPs) must understand how to competently address the unique healthcare needs of patients who may identify as LGBQ and work to provide an affirmative, respectful, and inclusive care environment. In addition, it is imperative to more effectively incorporate such skills into both medical education and emergency medicine (EM) training programs.