Objective The purpose of this discussion is to consider how members of the LGBT

Objective
The purpose of this discussion is to consider how members of the LGBTQIA+ community are marginalized by current healthcare practices.
**Please note the following:
Scholarly sources include current peer-reviewed sources, practice guidelines from professional organizations, and databases used for clinical decisions making (such as UpToDate). Your course materials, textbooks, and websites do not count as scholarly sources.
In order to obtain full credit, you must interact on more than three days. Posting your initial post and each peer post on a different day for three days total is only an 8/10 for this section of the rubric. An additional post that is substantive and adds to the conversation (not just “I agree” or “nice work”) is required to get 10/10 in this area of the rubric.
A 100 in the discussion means you have exceeded the minimum requirements and the faculty does not have any suggestions for room for improvement for you.
Initial Post
First, briefly describe the difference between gender and sexuality and why it is important to not make assumptions regarding either. Next, choose a group of individuals that belong to the LGBTQIA+ population (for example, transgender males). Discuss how this group experiences barriers to care as it relates to their gender and/or sexuality. Your initial post should use at least three scholarly sources to support your description of how the relationship and/or assessment may be affected.
Response Posts
Please respond to a minimum of two peers’ initial posts. Your reply post should include strategies that you plan to incorporate into your practice in order to minimize the barriers to care discussed in your peer’s initial post. Please be sure to use at least two scholarly sources in each of your response posts.
please respond to Amanda
As healthcare providers, it is important to understand the distinct difference between gender and sexuality and to be accepting of all individuals regardless of their identity and preferences. Although gender and sexuality are often perceived as interconnected concepts, it is essential to acknowledge that the two are actually independent of one another (Roselli, 2018). Gender identity can be either the same or different from one’s physical sex (Roselli, 2018). Physical gender differentiation occurs before sexual differentiation of the brain so the two are not always identical (Roselli, 2018). Sexuality is defined as the way individuals experience themselves as sexual humans with regard to sexual preferences and sexual orientation (Verrastro et al., 2020). Roselli (2018) states “Research over several decades has demonstrated that sexual orientation ranges along a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the opposite sex to exclusive attraction to the same sex”. (p.5). The expression of sexuality and gender identity is an innate human right that is fundamental and natural (Verrastro et al., 2020). Regardless of one’s physical sex, healthcare professionals should not make assumptions about their patient’s gender or sexuality. Gender affirmation is defined as the experience of attaining social recognition and support for one’s gender identity (Sevelius et al., 2020). Transgender individuals and gender diverse groups who have positive gender affirmation experiences tend to report improved mental health and wellbeing (Sevelius et al., 2020). With increased education regarding sexuality and gender, healthcare providers are in a better position to provide high-quality, efficient, professional care, while also having increased knowledge regarding detection and prevention of health problems that may be faced by various patient populations (Verrastro et al., 2020).Unfortunately, LGBTQIA+ groups often face adversity and marginalization, which is seen in healthcare. Research suggests that individuals from sexual minority groups, encompassing all individuals who are not heterosexual, report higher rates of physical and mental health conditions (Hughes et al., 2022). Homosexual men are a group within the LGBTQIA+ community that face healthcare disparities. One negative behavior of healthcare providers toward homosexual men is stereotyping, which involves making assumptions about an individual based on their group identity or demographic (Casanova-Perez et al., 2021). In a research interview, one participant recalls seeing the term “high-risk homosexual behavior” written in his chart, though the provider had never asked him about his recent sexual activity or his general sex practices in terms of safety (Casanova-Perez et al., 2021). This is a clear case of stereotyping, which must be acknowledged and addressed. Another issue related to the care of homosexual men is bias-embedded medicine, which is defined as unfair treatment related to personal characteristics (Casanova-Perez, 2021). Bias leads to difficulty accessing healthcare testing and treatment, as well as receiving appropriate health diagnoses (Casanova-Perez, 2021). Nurses are in an excellent position to close the health care disparity gap experienced by members of the LGBTQIA+ community (Hughes et al., 2022).
Please respond to Sarah
The discussion about gender and sexuality has been a topic that needs more exploration, and it is important to discuss the differences and what both words mean and how it can affect their treatment in the medical field. Gender can be defined as roles, behaviors, identities, and expressions that society created for men, women, girls, boys. Sexuality is defined as the sexual thoughts, feelings, attractions, and behaviors towards other people (Moseson et al., 2020). There is a difference in gender and biological sex and that is that gender is how a person feels they identify more with, thus creating more genders than just male or female (Scandurra et al., 2019). The different types of gender identity other than male or female, but also include transgender, gender neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, none, or a combination of any (Moseson et al., 2020). Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about gender identity and sexuality that can affect the way a person receives healthcare and gets help when they need it. Many times, these individuals can feel alone, anxious, and depressed due to the lack of understanding of society and in turn they can hide their issues or avoid any health problems they are having because of discrimination (Borgogna et al., 2019). Making assumptions about someone’s’ gender or sexuality can make them feel unsafe or misunderstood.
There are many barriers to health care that can affect those who do not fall into the biological genders based on their feelings, preferences, or behaviors. Of the groups listed above, I will focus on non-binary people. These individuals do not identify as male or female and do not have a preference in which pronouns they would like to be called. Most commonly non-binary people use they/them pronouns as they do not identify with either of the biological genders (Goldberg et al., 2019). There are barriers to health care that exist for the LGBTQA+ community which include discrimination, lack of health insurance, lack of culturally competent providers to give care to them without bias (Dalhamer et al., 2016). Since those who are non-binary consider themselves to be both genders or a combination of the two or neither they face barriers because they do not conform with societies expectations of sexuality or what medicine about there being only two biological genders. They also face stigma of being atypical in their sexuality and their feelings of how they do not fit into the box of either gender. One of the biggest barriers non-binary individuals faceis the lack of gender-affirming medical care such as hormones or medications to stop puberty if they so choose to change their gender this way (Moseson et al., 2020). Non-binary youth and adults have higher rates of substance abuse, increased sexually transmitted diseases, bullying, anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation (Borgogna et al., 2019). Unfortunately, there is an increase in mental illnesses that go untreated due to stigma or fear that they will be treated poorly as patients for their feelings and beliefs (Dalhamer et al., 2016). Being a provider that is culturally competent and who can help those who need it most is vital in this field of work.