Haley Munson
Research Mentor(s): Christopher Sutton
Mentor Department: LGBT Detroit
Authors: Haley Munson, A. Nzere Kwabena, Chris Sutton
Session: Session 7 (4:00pm – 4: 50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 62
Abstract
Healthcare is an essential part of a healthy and happy life. In America, there are many health disparities that unproportionatley affect disadvantaged types of people. It is very difficult to address this issue on a large scale. However, I work with LGBT Detroit, a nonprofit organization that addresses some health these disparities. Their mission is to offer resources and community to queer, black and brown identifying people in the Detroit area. In my time there, I researched health disparities between queer individuals and cisgender, heterosexual individuals. I found that queer people are more likely to face healthcare discrimination based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This leads to diminished quality of care and often leads queer individuals to avoid seeking healthcare. Discrimination was more highly reported in transgender and gender queer individuals. Both sexual minority and gender minority groups experienced discrimination at higher rates if they were non-white. Discrimination was primarily based on lack of knowledge and prejudice. Additionally, it was also found that queer individuals are less likely to have medical insurance than cisgender individuals. Based on the findings of the research, I worked with LGBT Detroit to design programs for their new community health building, LGBT Detroit Health. LGBT Detroit Health offers specialized services, including physical fitness, mental health facilitation, chronic care management, and nutritional education. With LGBT Detroit, we have worked towards serving the disadvantaged people of Detroit and hope to make it a safer and better place for the queer community.
