Authors: Anny Zhang, Emily Biery
During the COVID-19 global pandemic and the recent #BlackLivesMatter movement, the LGBTQ community, as it does once a year, welcomes and celebrates the pride month that is of significant importance this June. After all of the unprecedented events that have taken place during the first half of this year, one truth we can all take away is that we will never fully understand the pain and struggle of those experiencing it firsthand; however, we can sympathize, educate ourselves, and act. The hashtag #BlackLGBTQLivesMatter, which has recently circulated on social media, on the health of a specific community that faces disparities in healthcare in the United States - the Latinx LGBTQ+ community.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality found that 23% of Latinx transgender people reported being refused medical care due to bias, and 36% reported having postponed care when they were sick or injured due to fear of discrimination. These rates of discrimination are far higher than those of the general population, as well as those of the sole Latinx or sole transgender populations.
More recently, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that the African American and Hispanic communities perceived COVID-19 as a significantly higher threat to their health than did White Americans, with 39% of those who identify as Hispanic viewing it as a major health risk. This speaks to the health disparities faced by minority populations, affecting both actual medical care and perceived medical care within these communities.
Additionally, nearly 1 in 10 Latinx Transgender people were HIV-positive, which is nearly 4 times more likely than the transgender population and over 16 times more likely than the general Latinx population to be HIV-positive.
Another commonly ignored health issue plaguing the LGBTQ+ Latinx population is alcohol abuse. According to the 2020 LGBT Health report, considering the history of oppression and discrimination that LGBT communities have faced, bars and clubs were often the only safe places where LGBT individuals could gather in history. Alcohol may have helped relieve their emotional stress but also triggered alcohol addictions and other health issues as a consequence.
But the story does not end here. According to another report on hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities, released in 2014, 15% of homicide victims were Latinx. Further, these Latinx survivors of homicides were 1.7 times more likely to experience police violence than non-Hispanics and 1.5 times more likely to experience discrimination.
Even more devastatingly, striking data shows that a staggering 47% of Latinx people reported having attempted suicide, compared to 1.6% of the general population, making Latinx transgender people 29 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. Latinx transgender women experience alarmingly high rates of violence and harassment, compared to other LGTBQ members.
Canopy also created several medical Spanish lessons about mental health. In the lesson of Depression and Anxiety (Level 1 - Lesson 10), users will learn how to ask questions about social history and emotional feelings in Spanish.
Learners also practice discussing mental health issues in Spanish in a lesson on Depression and Suicide (Level 3 - Lesson 10). In this lesson, healthcare professionals are taught to communicate with at-risk Latinx patients about this sensitive topic.
Social determinants affecting the health of Latinx LGBTQ individuals are largely related to oppression and discrimination. One of the factors, which pertains to why we are addressing this issue with our fellow aspiring or current healthcare professional learners, is that despite the shortage of overall Spanish-speaking bilingual healthcare providers in the U.S., the shortage of health care providers who are knowledgeable and culturally competent in LGBTQ+ and Latinx health is noticeable yet not driving enough attention.
Canopy emphasizes cultural awareness and competency in every lesson. For example, our mental health lessons include a discussion of the Spanish term "nervios" (nerves) and the many nuances this word can have in Latinx culture. Being aware of such cultural nuances can help healthcare providers to better understand and care for their patients.
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