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  • A Physician’s Approach to Gender-Affirming Care

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    Recent events in Texas have shone a spotlight on gender-affirming care and its impact on young people who identify as being gender diverse and transgender. TMA's LGBTQ Health Section answers common questions about gender-affirming care and what it means for patients and physicians.

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  • TMA Staying Involved as Courts Rule on Gender-Affirming Care, SB 8

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    TMA is making sure medicine’s best interests are considered in two legal cases in which courts handed down significant decisions on March 11, impacting physicians and the patients they serve. One decision impacted the state's attempt to investigate gender-affirming care as child abuse, while the other cleared the way for a future ruling on whether the state's new abortion law is constitutional.

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  • Opportunities and Challenges

    InReach Inclusion Physicians care for patients with unique health challenges, including adults and minors who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ). While 2015 national data noted 1.6% of adults identified as gay or lesbian and 0.8% as bisexual,1 the latest Gallup poll finds that 4.5% of Americans, or an estimated 11 million adults, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.2

    Health data on the LBGTQ population are inconsistent. But we do know that compared with heterosexual populations, LGBTQ individuals are at greater risk for health conditions related to obesity, substance use, depression, anxiety, lack of primary care, and violence.3 In 2017, an estimated 2.6 million students across the nation identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and compared with others, they experienced significantly higher risks for negative health outcomes due to substance use, suicide, violence, and sexual activity.4

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Table 1. Sexual orientation among U.S. adults aged 18 and over, by sex and age group: United States, 2015.
    2. Frank Newport. In U.S., Estimate of LGBT Population Rises to 4.5%. Gallup. May 22, 2018.
    3. Healthy People.gov. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health (accessed July 11, 2019).

  • LGBTQ Health Resources for Physicians

  • TMA Policy

    60.008 Rejection of Discrimination: The Texas Medical Association does not discriminate, and opposes discrimination, based on race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, national origin, age, sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity. TMA supports physician efforts to encourage that the nondiscrimination policies in their practices, medical schools, hospitals, and clinics be broadened to include “race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, national origin, age, sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity” in relation to patients, health care workers, and employees. (CSPH Rep. 1-A-18)

    60.010 Opposing Legislation that Mandates Physician Discrimination: The Texas Medical Association (1) supports the removal of “opposite sex” as a requirement for affirmative defense to prosecution within the Texas Penal Code, and (2) opposes legislation or regulation that mandates physicians and other health professionals discriminate against or limit access to health care for a specific patient population (Res. 111-A-19).  

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  • Ask the TMA Knowledge Center

    Got LGBTQ questions? Call the Knowledge Center.

    (800) 880-7955

     

  • LGBTQ Health Section

    The LGBTQ Health Section is open to all TMA members with an interest in LGBTQ health policy and serving LGBTQ patient populations. If you'd like to get involved, indicate your interest on your TMA online profile.

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  • LGBTQ+ Census Results

    The census likely undercounts the number of LGBTQ+ people living in Texas. Brett Cooper, MD, chair of the TMA LGBTQ Health Section, comments on how this affects physicians’ ability to provide appropriate healthcare.

  • Resources for Your Patients

    The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. In addition to the toll-free number, text, and chat options answered by trained counselors, the Trevor Support Center webpage provides easy-to-access frequently asked questions about sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. Help is available by phone at (866) 488-7386 /Text / Chat