Addressing the Disproportionate Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual and Gender Minority Populations in the United States: Actions Toward Equity

Abstract

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations may be affected disproportionately by health emergencies such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Health professionals must take immediate steps to ensure equitable treatment of SGM populations. These steps are to (1) maintain and increase cultural responsiveness training and preparedness for SGM populations, (2) increase use of sexual orientation and gender identity measures in surveillance, (3) conduct research on the impacts of COVID-19 on SGM populations, and (4) include equity-focused initiatives in disaster preparedness plans. These actions toward equity would begin to allow for our current health system to care more appropriately for SGM populations.

Sexual and Gender Minority Stress Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for LGBTQ Young Persons’ Mental Health and Well-Being

“…It is imperative for national, state, and local departments of health to make explicit statements and increase public awareness about the mental health vulnerabilities of LGBTQ young persons (and other marginalized groups) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and to commit to eliminating mental health inequities. 5 Public health researchers, academics, and scholars must elevate discourse on LGBTQ young persons' mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic, 5 with intentional centering of intersectional LGBTQ young persons, who are often pushed to the margins of public health research and intervention. 4,5,56 Knowledge to action is also critical; researchers must commit to rapid and effective dissemination strategies reaching beyond academic journals, 5 including engaging public health policy stakeholders; leveraging existing community-academic partnerships, social media, and the internet; and establishing new collaborations to maximize impact across communities of LGBTQ young persons.…”

“…Public health stakeholders must advocate for the collection of data on sexual orientation and gender identity among social service agencies; without systematic data collection, mental health and social service providers are limited in their ability to intervene in meaningful ways to address LGBTQ-specific mental and physical health inequities. 4,5 School-, community-, and government-based organizations serving young LGBTQ victims of abuse and domestic violence should further be supported in conducting in-person check-ins with young persons identified as at risk for abuse during the pandemic. 51 Social service and community-based organizations serving young LGBTQ victims of abuse urgently require support from public health stakeholders to facilitate and increase access to social service and mental health resources in the current pandemic context, including LGBTQ-affirming mental health treatment, safe housing, and shelters.…”

“…In this regard, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) adolescents and young adults have received limited public health attention. [3][4][5][6] This commentary aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the potential indirect mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on LGBTQ young persons.…”

Rapid mixed-methods assessment of COVID-19 impact on Latinx sexual minority men and Latinx transgender women

“…These efforts to address issues raised by COVID-19 can move forward in conjunction with ongoing endeavors to bolster non-discrimination protections and access to federally funded programs that have largely been undermined by current legislation. Across these levels, researchers have the responsibility to use measures that accurately assess race/ethnicity as well as sexual orientation and gender identity to ensure we appropriately document the extent to which COVID-19 impacts these communities [44], and with concerted action, can also track our progress at mitigating the pandemic's devastating impact across Latinx LGBT communities. This study contributes to the growing base of evidence regarding the ways in which COVID-19 will exacerbate existing disparities and also provides concrete suggestions to move us beyond documenting these disparities and instead, actively address them.…”

Disproportionate Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceived Social Support, Mental Health and Somatic Symptoms in Sexual and Gender Minority Populations

“…In addition to the general stress of the pandemic, the additive impacts of minority identity specific stressors on mental health may be heightened. Moreover, SGM-individuals understand, use, and rely on social supports differently than cisgender, heterosexual individuals and the buffering effects of social support may be weakened by social distancing guidelines (Bregman, Malik, Page, Makynen, & Lindahl, 2013;Kraft, Beeker, Stokes, & Peterson, 2000;Phillips et al, 2020;Zarwell, Ransome, Barak, Gruber, & Robinson, 2019;Zarwell & Robinson, 2018). The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in personal, social, and economic devastation for many, but the disproportionate negative impacts of the pandemic continue to reveal racial, social, and financial inequities.…”