Advocating for Your Health with Pride: A Guide for LGBTQIA2S+ Patients
June is more than just a celebration of colorful parades and flags—it’s National Pride Month, a vital time to recognize the ongoing fight for equality, visibility, and health equity for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. While Pride is a joyous reminder of progress, it’s also a powerful call to action to confront the health disparities that disproportionately affect our community.
Bias and discrimination are still too common in health care settings. Transgender people, bisexual people, intersex people, and people of color often face barriers to health care access, ranging from provider ignorance to outright prejudice. At Spectrum Medical, we’re changing that narrative by delivering inclusive, affirming care every day and empowering you to be your own best advocate in the process.
Know Your Power: The Role of Self-Advocacy in Health Care
Whether you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, intersex, queer, or fall anywhere along the spectrum of sexual and romantic attraction, your voice matters in medical care. Self-advocacy means speaking up for your health needs and demanding equitable patient care.
Many LGBTQIA2S+ patients have been dismissed or misgendered in clinical settings. That’s unacceptable. You deserve health professionals who not only respect your gender identity and sexual identity but also recognize your lived experience as a vital context for care. Spectrum Medical supports patients in building the confidence to advocate for themselves through patient education, peer support, and personalized treatment plans.
Choose Health Care Providers Who See and Respect You
One of the most impactful decisions you can make is finding a health care provider who affirms your identity and understands your unique needs. Not all providers are trained or experienced in caring for transgender patients, intersex people, or those outside the gender binary. And that lack of knowledge can lead to poor patient outcomes.
At Spectrum Medical, inclusivity is non-negotiable. Our team is trained in providing culturally competent, trauma-informed care that prioritizes dignity and respect. From the moment you walk through our doors, you’re seen, heard, and valued—not in spite of who you are, but because of it.
Need help finding the right provider? We connect patients with LGBTQIA2S+-affirming care providers and offer a range of in-house services—from HIV and STI testing to gender-affirming hormone therapy—all under one roof.
Understand the Health Disparities Facing Our Community
The LGBTQIA2S+ population continues to experience disproportionate rates of certain health conditions, often because of systemic barriers and limited access to affirming medical care. For example:
- Transgender women of color face heightened risk for HIV due to a mix of social stigma, economic marginalization, and lack of access to prevention tools like PrEP or DoxyPEP.
- Bisexual people report higher rates of anxiety and depression, often due to stigma both within and outside of queer spaces.
- Intersex people are still frequently subjected to non-consensual surgeries at birth, resulting in lifelong trauma and distrust in the medical system.
- LGBTQIA2S+ youth, especially those exploring sexual identity or romantic attraction, face an increased risk of suicide and mental health crises.
Recognizing these disparities is key to demanding better. Spectrum Medical works actively to address these gaps, offering accessible, community-centered solutions including mental health resources, HIV prevention counseling, and same-day access to PrEP.
Stay Informed: Health Knowledge is Power
You don’t have to be a health expert to be an empowered patient, but learning the basics about your body, your rights, and your options can make a major difference. Whether it’s knowing how PrEP works, understanding your hormone therapy plan, or learning the difference between sex at birth and gender identity, education is the foundation of effective advocacy.
Spectrum Medical provides ongoing education for our patients and community through workshops and resource guides. We keep you up-to-date on health trends that impact LGBTQIA2S+ populations, such as the latest in monkeypox vaccinations, STI prevention strategies, and gender-affirming surgical options.
Speak Your Truth: Communicating with Confidence
It’s common to feel nervous talking to a doctor, especially if you’ve been dismissed or judged in the past. But open communication with your provider is essential. Tell them how you identify, what pronouns you use, and what health concerns you have. Don’t downplay symptoms or avoid topics because of fear or shame.
If something feels off—say so. Ask for clarification. Bring a friend or advocate if needed. You’re not being difficult; you’re protecting your health.
Spectrum Medical encourages honest, judgment-free conversations. We create a health care setting where patients are empowered to be fully themselves and to ask for what they need without fear of discrimination or dismissal.
Spectrum Medical’s Commitment to Affirming Care
At Spectrum, we’re proud to offer care that’s built around you, not a binary box. Our services reflect the full diversity of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, including:
- Primary Care for All Genders: Whether you’re cis, trans, nonbinary, or intersex, our providers tailor care to your identity and anatomy.
- Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy: Available with supportive consultation, ongoing monitoring, and no gatekeeping.
- STI Testing and Prevention: Protect your health with fast, confidential STI testing and access to prevention tools like DoxyPEP—all in a safe, inclusive space.
- HIV Testing and Treatment: Get free, judgment-free HIV testing, same-day access to PrEP and PEP, and expert-led treatment designed to help you thrive.
- Behavioral Health Service Referrals: Therapy and support groups that recognize the mental health toll of systemic bias and trauma.
- Outreach & Community Health Events: We meet you where you are—with mobile testing units, drag show health nights, and local Pride celebrations.
Every service we provide is designed to close the gap in health care access for LGBTQIA2S+ people and deliver patient care that’s safe, inclusive, and empowering.
Know Your Rights in a Health Care Setting
Federal law protects your right to receive nondiscriminatory care, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. That means a health care provider cannot legally deny you services or treat you differently based on these factors.
Still, discrimination happens. If you experience mistreatment or feel unsafe, document the incident and report it to the appropriate agency. Spectrum Medical helps patients understand their rights and provides support if they encounter discrimination elsewhere.
We also partner with legal aid organizations and advocacy groups to help patients resolve healthcare-related grievances and ensure every person receives the medical care they deserve.
Building Trust in a System That Hasn’t Always Served Us
Let’s be real—many LGBTQIA2S+ people have had to heal from past medical trauma. Maybe it was being misgendered, questioned about your sexual attraction in irrelevant ways, or being told your pain wasn’t valid. These experiences are real, and they make it hard to trust providers again.
That’s why at Spectrum, we prioritize rebuilding that trust. Our staff undergoes continuous training in inclusive care, unconscious bias, and trauma-informed communication. We also ensure our intake forms and processes respect your identity, from pronouns to partner recognition, because affirming language isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Pride is Protest. Pride is Prevention. Pride is Patient Care.
Pride Month is a celebration, but also a reminder that health equity for LGBTQIA2S+ people is still a work in progress. Self-advocacy is not just about fighting for individual care; it’s about reshaping the system for everyone.
You have the right to live well, to be seen, and to receive medical care that honors your full humanity, regardless of your gender identity, sexual identity, or romantic attraction. And you don’t have to do it alone.
At Spectrum Medical, we’re committed to walking alongside you. We’re not just providers—we’re partners in your health journey. From the exam room to the community stage, we show up for you every day.
Ready to Take Control of Your Health?
Whether you’re seeking primary care, HIV prevention, gender-affirming services, or just a place where you feel truly seen, Spectrum Medical is here for you. Plan your visit on your schedule, now accepting new patients. Booking ahead ensures you get the time and care you deserve. Appointments are encouraged and easy to make. If looking for testing, we have Testing After Dark hours for you!