This is possibly due to the fact that sexual minorities may have additional challenges finding insurance because of discrimination in the workforce or the additional costs of being in a non-heterosexual couple (gay men and lesbians do not get many of the tax breaks and other legal support that heterosexual couples are entitled to by marriage, although this is changing, thanks to increased recognition of domestic partnerships and greater support for gay marriage throughout the country).
Thus, gays and lesbians have additional health concerns that are compounded by poverty. Furthermore, non-heterosexual minorities have also been found to have elevated risk factors which compound the risks of being gay and lesbian. According to Mojola and Everett (2012), while "gay men in all racial and ethnic groups were significantly more likely than heterosexual white men to report having received an STD diagnosis" (this includes not simply HIV / AIDS but all STDs, "compared with heterosexual white men, mixed-oriented black men had the highest odds of having received such a diagnosis" (Mojola & Everett 2012). They also found that "sexual-minority women in each racial or ethnic group had a higher prevalence of sexual risk behaviors -- including a history of multiple partners, forced sex and incarceration -- than their heterosexual counterparts," and black men, men who were members of sexual minorities and all mixed-oriented women in were at heightened risk for an STD diagnosis (Mojola & Everett 2012).
Thus, when characterizing gays and lesbians as a 'vulnerable' population, it must be emphasized that the differences between the...
Also, risk may differ depending on socioeconomic status, race, and age. Gay men were more inclined to get screening for colorectal cancer vs. heterosexual men; young lesbians were more inclined to be physically active than their heterosexual counterparts (Boehmer 2012). Thus, when a healthcare provider is administering care, he or she must be careful not to simply view the patient's sexual orientation as an inclusive category, but rather regard it as one factor amongst many which can influence health outcomes. And every gay, lesbian, or bisexual patient is an individual and his or her own unique concerns. Some lesbian mothers may be planning a family, which will change the profile of the woman's health concerns; some gay men may choose to adopt children. The healthcare provider must be mindful of risks in this population but always treat the patient not simply see the patient's sexuality as the main determining factor in his or her health profile.
References
Boehmer, U., Miao, X., Linkletter, C., & Clark, M. (2012). Adult health behaviors over the life course by sexual orientation. American Journal of Public Health, 102(2), 292-
Conron, Keith, Mimiaga, Matthew J, & Landers, Stewart. (2010). A population-based study of sexual orientation identity and gender differences in adult health. American Journal of Public Health, 100(10), 1953-60.
Mojola, Sanyu a. & Everett, Bethany. (2012). STD and HIV risk factors among U.S.
young adults: Variations by gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
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