LGBTQ+ Health

(If you are having problems accessing the following articles, please get in contact with the library team lthstafflibraries@nhs.net)

Scaling HIV self-testing to improve health equity among cisgender gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, trans and gender-diverse people in the UK: An HIV self-testing implementation action framework.

HIV medicine,2026 Apr 22

Person-centred HIVST is critical to improving HIV testing uptake by responding to, and ultimately reducing, entrenched health inequalities in the United Kingdom. Our Framework provides a person-centred roadmap for implementing HIVST across a range of high-income settings.

Exploring the use of gender-inclusive language amongst health care students and staff in obstetrics and gynaecology

Medical Education, April 2026

Gender-inclusive language is increasingly recognised as essential in health care to ensure respectful and equitable care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. However, the adoption of gender-inclusive language in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) may vary across generations and hierarchical levels, and the perspectives of students and staff on its use remain underexamined. This study aimed to explore how O&G learners and clinicians understand and use gender-inclusive language.

Access here : LibKey | Exploring the use of gender‐inclusive language amongst health care students and staff in obstetrics and gynaecology

Healthcare Experiences of Older Adults with an LGBT+ Identity: An Integrative Review

Healthcare, April 2026

Older adults with an LGBT+ identity represent an under-researched population within healthcare. Existing evidence suggests that they experience distinct health challenges compared to their heterosexual counterparts, partly shaped by lifelong experiences of stigma and discrimination. This review aims to synthesise the existing literature on how older adults with an LGBT+ identity experience encounters with healthcare.

Access here: LibKey | Healthcare Experiences of Older Adults with an LGBT+ Identity: An Integrative Review

Tackling loneliness could reduce depression for sexual minority older adults

The Mental Elf, May 2026

Older adults who identify as part of a sexual minority, such as lesbian, gay, or bisexual individuals, consistently show higher rates of depression compared to their heterosexual peers. sexual minority older adults are particularly vulnerable to loneliness. They are more likely to live alone, less likely to have children, and may have experienced rejection or loss within family and social circles.

2025 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People

The Trevor Project, May 2026

This survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people amplifies the experiences of more than 16,000 LGBTQ+ people ages 13 to 24. For the seventh year, the survey found that LGBTQ+ young people are too often placed at higher risk for suicide not because of who they are, but as a result of how they are mistreated and stigmatized. Our findings offer evidence-based ways to show support for LGBTQ+ young people – and do our part to help address the urgent public health crisis of suicide among this high-risk population.

2026 Kantar DIVA Curve Report

Kantar, April 2026

The Kantar-DIVA-Curve report shines a spotlight on the lived realities of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. Their experiences are often shaped by conditional safety, uneven access to care and the need to navigate systems that were not designed with them in mind. 33% of respondents stated they avoided healthcare due to discrimination, and 40-46% said they left healthcare settings when they felt dismissed.

 

Beyond the rainbow flag: a commitment to celebrating LGBTQ+ surgeons and advocating for LGBTQ+ patients

The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, May 2026

Pride means more than a month of rainbow; it means celebrating LGBTQ+ surgeons and advocating for LGBTQ+ patients. Surgery, in particular, with its former archaic views and unspoken rules around acceptance, has not always feltlike a place where members felt safe to be truly themselves. Safety and acceptance have a profound impact on the wellbeing and morale of LGBTQ+ clinicians.

myGwork LGBTQ+ Mental Health survey

myGwork, May 2026

It's more important than ever to place a focus on workplace mental health. The findings from myGwork's groundbreaking global study on LGBTQ+ professionals paint a clear picture of the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in professional environments.

Recommended but not forced segregation: New guidance could push Trans+ people out of public life

Queer AF, May 2026

A new code of practice by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has been laid before Parliament. Described as a "toned down" version of a previous draft, it sets out how Trans+ people should be protected from discrimination, while affording organisations that wish to exclude Trans+ people legal defences in order to do so.

This is why LGBTQIA+ fertility equality still matters in 2026

Diva, April 2026

For far too many people, especially LGBTQIA+ people, the journey to parenthood remains unequal, expensive, stressful and too often deeply unfair.

What lesbian visibility means for the NHS and why leadership matters

NHS Employers, April 2026

Layla McCay reflects on why visible lesbian leadership is not only a workforce issue but central to inclusion, performance and patient care.

Tips for Allies of Transgender People

The following are tips that can be used as you move toward becoming a better ally to transgender people.

Stonewall UK 
Includes many links to information and support for LGBT communities and their allies.

LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.

LGBT Switchboard 
A helpline that provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Queer / LGBTQIA+ Menopause

A website with a mission to promote inclusive menopause resources for those who need them, and greater education for therapists and healthcare practitioners about the needs of LGBTQIA+ people in menopause.

LGBTMummies

Our sole purpose is to support LGBT+ women and people globally on the path to motherhood or parenthood. Our mission is to acquire true equity & equality for LGBT+ families to that of our heterosexual counterparts.

LGBTQ+ Health - NHS Futures Workspace

The  LGBTQ+ Health Team Workspace on the NHS Future Platform is a place to collaborate with fellow healthcare professionals, grounded in the belief that everyone deserves equitable, respectful, and inclusive healthcare—regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Many useful resources have already been uploaded on LGBT+ cancer care, LGBTQ+ mental health and care of Elderly LGBTQ+ people. 

If you have an NHS.net email click 'log in with NHS.net SSO', alternatively sign up/ log in with NHS England Apps or your work email.

 

NHS England Patient Equalites programme
Within this hub you will find information about NHS England’s statutory responsibilities and national NHS programmes related to LGBT+ Health.

LGBT+ mental health services map

List of charities and organisations providing mental health and suicide prevention support for people who identify as LGBTQI+.

National Ambulance LGBT Network
Understanding Trans Service Users: Ambulance Service Perspective 

National LGBT Partnership
The National LGBT Partnership was established in early 2010, in order reduce health inequalities and challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within public services. The Partnership combines the expertise of thirty-eight key LGBTQIA+ organisations across England, and works closely with many more.

Breaking down the barriers to LGBTIQ+ healthcare inclusive cancer care.

OUTpatients. The UK's LGBTQI+ cancer chairty

We have created this booklet as an overview of some of our core information and training to help you to begin to improve the LGBTQI+ inclusivity of your cancer services.

Working with transgender people in physiotherapy practice

This guidance supports CSP members in improving the health of communities, including people who are transgender, through high-quality physiotherapy

Information for Healthcare Professionals

The updated resource covers best practice on how to support trans patients and staff across all healthcare settings and has information about the specific interventions available to trans patients. The new update launching today significantly expands the resource, which now features links to hundreds of documents from healthcare and LGBTQ+ organisations, as well as our own expanded guidance for primary and hospital care professionals.

 

Check out our own LGBT+  book collection consisting of both clinical and wellbeing books.

 

What Real Inclusion Looks Like at Work When You’re LGBTQ

Podcast series

We’re celebrating Pride Month, and to kick us off, Amy and Brandi get real about the unfiltered, often uncomfortable truth of being LGBTQ+ in the workplace—where invisibility can feel safer than honesty, and “inclusion” doesn’t always include you. Together with Kim, they unpack the messy layers of LGBTQ+ identity at work—from pronoun politics and people-pleasing to being “the only one” in the room. If you’ve ever felt unseen at work—or want to ensure your team doesn’t have to—this one’s for you. Showing up matters more than getting it perfect.

Gender Reveal 

Podcast series. 

Welcome to Gender Reveal, a podcast about nonbinary and transgender folks. Join us as we interview notable trans guests, analyze current events, answer advice questions and get a little bit closer to understanding what the heck gender is.

 

LGBT+ Staff Network - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust intranet 
The network aims to provide a point of contact and support for LGBT+ staff and allies in the workplace.

Make your pledge
The NHS Rainbow Badges initiative started at Evelina Children’s Hospital in London and has quickly gained pace throughout the NHS. We are proud to be joining the movement and making a public commitment to support both patients and staff that identify as LGBT+. 

Increased awareness of the issues surrounding LGBT+ people when accessing healthcare on the part of NHS staff can make significant differences to LGBT+ peoples’ experiences, and, in turn on their physical and mental health.  The badge is a reminder that you can talk to our staff about who you are and how you feel. They will do their best to get support for you if you need it.

NHS confederation 
Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network 

LGBT+ SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 
Check out local sport groups in the Leeds area

 

Is there a LGBTQ+ information need we are not meeting?

Let us know and we can provide the results with a literature search. 

Want to undertake your own LGBT+ health research?

Not sure where to start? We can provide training on how to search and appraise resources on our healthcare databases.

Want the lasted LGBT+ health evidence direct to your inbox?

Let us know if you have a speciality or just want the highlights of the latest evidence.
Contact lthstafflibraries@nhs.net for more details.