Bright Spaces, Welcome Places
Understanding and Affirming LGBTQ+ Lives in Healthcare Settings
To ensure quality care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) patients, Fierce Pride has identified five policies and practices that mental health agencies and medical clinics can adopt to make their practice welcoming and inclusive to LGBTQ+ people. Agencies and clinics who have or who adopt three or more of the recommended policies may be added to the Bright Spaces, Welcome Places Online Directory. Individuals looking for mental health and medical health services can search for agencies that have LGBTQ+ affirming policies. Additionally, agencies listed in our directory will be given an LGBTQ+ art print created by a New Mexico LGBTQ+ artist.
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1. Adopt and post a nondiscrimination policy that explicitly includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Healthcare settings have historically discriminated against LGBTQ+ people, and many LGBTQ+ people do not seek mental health or health care services due to past negative experiences or a fear of negative experiences. It is important for health care organizations to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in their nondiscrimination policy. Click here for examples of nondiscrimination policies.
The nondiscrimination policy should be visibly and clearly posted at the facility, in print materials, and online. This creates a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people by ensuring this policy is communicated to patients and their families. Including the nondiscrimination policy in job listings and the employee handbook can help attract and support a diverse LGBTQ+-identified staff.
To further the nondiscrimination policy within inpatient facilities, create an LGBTQ-inclusive visitation policy. Define “families” broadly to include non-married partners, families of choice who may not be biologically related, and parents acting in loco parentis who may not be biologically or legally related to their child.
Nondiscrimination policies are more meaningful when there is a well-defined process for reporting and responding to any discrimination complaints. Clear directions for reporting should be posted with the nondiscrimination policy and communicated to staff and patients.
2. Deliver ongoing staff training in LGBTQ+ affirming care.
Staff training is vital for the creation and maintenance of a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people. Ongoing training allows for staff to build their knowledge of and comfort with LGBTQ+ issues each year while also giving new staff skills to serve LGBTQ+ patients well.
Education increases staff knowledge and confidence around LGBTQ+-specific language and communication. Education includes information about LGBTQ+ health disparities and inclusive health practices that goes beyond “equal treatment.”
Click here for a listing of New Mexico in-person trainers and online LGBTQ+ training.
3. Provide gender-neutral language on forms that allow for patient self-disclosure about sexuality, gender, pronoun, and preferred name.
Health outcomes are better for LGBTQ+ people when they are open with their healthcare providers about their gender and sexual orientation. One way to facilitate that disclosure is to create forms that reflect the reality of LGBTQ+ lives. Making forms gender-neutral allows for a multitude of genders outside the male/female binary and sexuality outside of heterosexual/homosexual binary. Forms that ask (but do not require) a person’s pronoun, preferred name, and sexual orientation allows patients to start the conversation with their provider.
Click here for more resources for creating gender-neutral language on forms.
