What Is Pride Month Really About?
Pride Month, observed every June, honors the history, struggles, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. While celebrations and parades draw attention to the fight for equality, Pride Month is also a time for critical reflection — particularly when it comes to healthcare access and treatment equity.
A recent KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) survey reveals a sobering truth: despite progress, 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults report experiencing unfair or disrespectful treatment from healthcare providers. During Pride Month, it’s essential to ask: What does health equity look like for LGBTQ+ individuals in 2025 — and how do we get there?
Understanding the Healthcare Gap for LGBTQ+ Adults
According to KFF’s 2023 survey:
- 33% of LGBTQ+ adults reported unfair or disrespectful treatment by healthcare providers in the past three years, compared to only 15% of non-LGBTQ+ adults.
- Nearly 24% of LGBTQ+ individuals said their negative healthcare experiences made their health worse, compared to 9% of non-LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Over a third of LGBTQ+ adults (39%) were less likely to seek healthcare after a bad experience.
This gap isn’t just about individual providers — it’s a systemic issue.
The Hidden Toll: Discrimination and Health Outcomes
Discrimination in healthcare doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It has real and lasting consequences:
- Mental Health: LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation. These disparities are not innate — they’re directly tied to how individuals are treated in healthcare and society.
- Delayed or Avoided Care: Fear of judgment or bias causes many LGBTQ+ patients to avoid preventive care, which can lead to worsened health outcomes over time.
- Mistrust in the System: Being misgendered, ignored, or stereotyped leads to emotional harm and a deep mistrust in medical institutions.
Who’s Most Affected?
The report also highlighted that discrimination is not evenly distributed across the LGBTQ+ community:
- 41% of LGBTQ+ adults with lower incomes reported negative care experiences.
- LGBTQ+ women (35%) and adults aged 18-29 (37%) were more likely to experience unfair treatment.
- Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ adults were more likely to face discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
These numbers show that intersectionality matters — when gender identity, sexual orientation, race, age, and income intersect, the likelihood of unfair treatment rises.
A Glimpse of Hope: Positive Interactions Are Still Possible
Despite the challenges, the report shows that most LGBTQ+ adults still experience positive care most of the time:
- 81% said providers explained things clearly
- 81% felt their cultural values were respected
- 76% said they were involved in healthcare decisions
- 70% said their provider spent adequate time with them
This means that inclusive, empathetic care is not out of reach. But it must become the standard — not the exception.
What Needs to Change?
Lindsey Dawson, Director of LGBTQ Health Policy at KFF, stressed the importance of targeted and culturally competent policy solutions. So, how can we move forward?
- Mandatory LGBTQ+ Health Competency Training
Medical professionals must be educated in inclusive practices, including language, gender identity, and the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ patients.
- Accountability and Data Transparency
Healthcare systems should track discrimination complaints and publish findings to ensure accountability and public trust.
- Policy Protections
Amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, federal and state governments must safeguard non-discrimination protections in health care, especially for trans and non-binary individuals.
- Inclusive Mental Health Access
More funding and support for culturally competent mental health services are urgently needed, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Pride Month Is a Call to Action
While Pride Month is a time to celebrate, it’s also a time to recognize the unfinished work. True pride means ensuring that every LGBTQ+ person can access care without fear, receive treatment without bias, and thrive in a system that sees and respects their full identity.
As Alex Sheldon of GLMA puts it:
“Until we’re met with dignity and respect, we’re not going to be able to actually get the full range of health care that we need.”
Let’s use this Pride Month not just to celebrate — but to demand better.
Let’s use this Pride Month not just to celebrate — but to demand better. Real change begins with acknowledging disparities and addressing them through inclusive training, systemic accountability, and a compassionate, representative workforce. Learn how healthcare staffing trends in 2025 are shaping a more equitable future for all — including LGBTQ+ communities — in our latest guide on 2025 Healthcare Staffing Trends: Insights Shaping the Future of Workforce Strategy.
FAQs About Pride Month and LGBTQ+ Health Equity
Pride Month, held every June, honors LGBTQ+ history, rights, and culture. It’s a time for celebration and advocacy for equality, including in healthcare.
Discrimination and bias in healthcare are still widespread for LGBTQ+ adults. Pride Month highlights the need for inclusive and equitable care.
Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. October is LGBTQ+ History Month, focused on education and historical awareness in the U.S.
Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, which sparked the LGBTQ+ rights movement and led to annual Pride celebrations beginning in 1970.
Pride Month began in June 1970, marking the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and the first-ever Pride marches in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Follow us on Social Media:
