Families headed by sexual minorities encounter unique barriers to care and health equity despite greater cultural acceptance and visibility. Empirical research suggests that children in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families develop and function comparably to those from traditional families. In helping families, awareness of family structure is important. The health care provider should be familiar with family composition, and their community, social supports, race/ethnic concerns, financial issues, and other vulnerabilities. Cultivating an office culture and practice that supports all patients to comfortably discuss their family history, interpersonal experiences, needs, and vulnerabilities is essential for excellence in clinical care.
Key points
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Sexual minority families face unique barriers to care and health equity in health care and educational systems, as well as health-related law and policy.
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Health care providers can play an important role in navigating the unique barriers and challenges that sexual minority families face when seeking welcoming and affirming clinical practices.
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Empirical data demonstrate good functioning in the majority of children of same-sex parents.
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These children develop and function comparably to those from traditional families, and develop particular strengths that are linked to having parents who are sexual minorities.
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Familiarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender language, family composition, support, financial vulnerability, and intersectionality with factors such as race/ethnicity are key to competency in assisting these families in the health care system.
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