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Unraveling Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Commentary on the Persistent Impact of Stigma.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Valdiserri, RO; Holtgrave, DR; Poteat, TC; Beyrer, C
Published in: J Homosex
2019

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) populations experience disparities in health outcomes, both physical and mental, compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This commentary confronts the view held by some researchers that the disparate rates of mental health problems reported among LGBT populations are the consequences of pursuing a particular life trajectory, rather than resulting from the corrosive and persistent impact of stigma. Suggesting that mental health disparities among LGBT populations arise internally, de novo, when individuals express non-heterosexual and non-conforming gender identities ignores the vast body of evidence documenting the destructive impact of socially mediated stigma and systemic discrimination on health outcomes for a number of minorities, including sexual and gender minorities. Furthermore, such thinking is antithetical to widely accepted standards of health and wellbeing because it implies that LGBT persons should adopt and live out identities that contradict or deny their innermost feelings of self.

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Published In

J Homosex

DOI

EISSN

1540-3602

Publication Date

2019

Volume

66

Issue

5

Start / End Page

571 / 589

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Stigma
  • Social Psychology
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • Psychological Distance
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Homosexuality
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Gender Identity
 

Citation

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Valdiserri, R. O., Holtgrave, D. R., Poteat, T. C., & Beyrer, C. (2019). Unraveling Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Commentary on the Persistent Impact of Stigma. J Homosex, 66(5), 571–589. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2017.1422944
Valdiserri, Ronald O., David R. Holtgrave, Tonia C. Poteat, and Chris Beyrer. “Unraveling Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Commentary on the Persistent Impact of Stigma.J Homosex 66, no. 5 (2019): 571–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2017.1422944.
Valdiserri RO, Holtgrave DR, Poteat TC, Beyrer C. Unraveling Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Commentary on the Persistent Impact of Stigma. J Homosex. 2019;66(5):571–89.
Valdiserri, Ronald O., et al. “Unraveling Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Commentary on the Persistent Impact of Stigma.J Homosex, vol. 66, no. 5, 2019, pp. 571–89. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/00918369.2017.1422944.
Valdiserri RO, Holtgrave DR, Poteat TC, Beyrer C. Unraveling Health Disparities Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Commentary on the Persistent Impact of Stigma. J Homosex. 2019;66(5):571–589.

Published In

J Homosex

DOI

EISSN

1540-3602

Publication Date

2019

Volume

66

Issue

5

Start / End Page

571 / 589

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Stigma
  • Social Psychology
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • Psychological Distance
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Homosexuality
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Gender Identity