LGBTQ+ Health
Want to provide the right support for staff and patients, but don’t know where to start? This LGBTQ+ topic guide is updated regularly with reports, briefs and policies so you can deliver the best care.
Here at Leeds Libraries for health we aim to put LGBTQ+ healthcare at the forefront of our research. If there is something else that you would like to see added here or want research directly emailed to your inbox, please contact us.
Content on this page is based on the Pride bulletin produced by United Lincs NHS library service. Contact lthstafflibraries@nhs.net to receive the bulletin direct to your inbox.
Disclaimer: Whilst every attempt is made to ensure the safety and accuracy of information on this site, we disclaim all liability for the content of this site. In addition, we can not be held liable for the content of the web sites we link to. Everything linked here is for informational purposes and is not an endorsement of a particular point of view .If you are in any doubt about what this means, or you identify any serious inaccuracies, please contact us.
News
EPATH, WPATH, and USPATH Release Joint Statement on Ethical Concerns Regarding UK PATHWAYS Trial
The European Professional Association for Transgender Health, January 2026
As organizations dedicated to advancing high‑quality, evidence‑based transgender healthcare, we fully support rigorous research. However, the current PATHWAYS study design raises several issues that conflict with internationally recognized ethical standards for clinical research and adolescent care.
A new community-led initiative is crowd-sourcing information about GPs who are inclusive and supportive of Trans+ patients. My Trans GP has now gathered over 900 reviews for the over 9000 GPs listed in the UK. The platform allows users to share reviews of doctors, nurses, and event reception staff, as well as to log important details, such as whether the GP supports shared care, prescribing, monitoring, referrals, and record updates.
One in six children who died by suicide were LGBTQ+, new data shows
Queer AF, January 2026
Between April 2019 and March 2025, 107 of the 647 children who died by suicide in England were LGBTQ+. Forty-six of these children were trans – seven per cent of all children who died by suicide.
People from sexual minorities really do die younger, new data suggests
The Conversation, January 2026
New data has revealed something the UK has never seen before: clear evidence that sexual minority people die earlier, and at higher rates, than their straight or heterosexual peers. People identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or another minority
sexual orientation were 30% more likely to die from any cause during the study period than those identifying as straight or heterosexual.
Supreme Court decision does not require Trans+ bathroom ban, Scottish court says
Queer AF, December 2025
A high-profile Scottish Employment tribunal has ruled that the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of For Women Scotland does not require Trans+ people to be segregated from single sex bathrooms and changing areas. It is a significant victory for Trans+ rights, amid ongoing legal disputes about the meaning of the court decision.
Published research
(If you are having problems accessing the following articles, please get in contact with the library team lthstafflibraries@nhs.net)
International journal of aging & human development, November 2025
Lesbian and gay individuals face unique experiences and expectations associated with growing older. The study provides a preliminary model of how lesbian and gay adults view their aging and identifies psychosocial risk and resilience factors.
Primary Health Care, January 2026
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) remain disproportionately affected by HIV. Reducing stigma, promoting inclusivity and facilitating equitable PrEP provision is crucial. GBMSM accessing PrEP care need culturally competent care, integrated risk reduction strategies and mental health support and counselling.
Changes in Suicidality among Transgender Adolescents Following Hormone Therapy: An Extended Study
The Journal of Pediatrics, January 2026
This study aimed to examine changes in suicidality following hormone therapy among transgender and gender-diverse adolescents and young adults. Suicidality significantly declined from pretreatment to post-treatment. This effect was consistent across sex assigned at birth, age at start of therapy, and treatment duration.
Journal of Surgical Education, January 2026
Diversity within the surgical workforce is not just a matter of equity, but a determinant of quality in patient care. Diverse healthcare teams achieve better outcomes, higher patient satisfaction, and improved team functioning. Responses of 7906 trainees and 7621 consultant trainers were analyzed. Women were underrepresented in the majority of specialties, as were those identifying as LGBTQ+ amongst consultants.
Exploring LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of long-term and end of life care services
Nursing Standard, January 2026
In this article, the author examines some of the challenges experienced by LGBTQ+ people in accessing long-term and end of life care services, and discusses issues related to the concealment and disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity. The author explores some of the ways in which nurses, educators and healthcare organisations might improve the representation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in end of life care services.
International Journal of Transgender Health, January 2026
This article provides lived experience perspectives on the harms and failings in non-affirmative healthcare provision in NHS children’s gender clinics in the UK. It also provides lived experience insight on the benefits and strengths of affirmative healthcare provision, that were unanimously desired and found beneficial by those interviewed.
Key papers and reports
TransActual, October 2025
This study examines how the non-statutory EHRC interim update has shaped real-world access to, and experiences within, gendered spaces in the UK. Despite Equality Act 2010 protections for trans people remaining in law, our data demonstrates that current interpretations and practices cause a clear risk to the effectiveness of those protections.
Out at work? A systematic review of LGBTQ+ mental health in the workplace
The Mental Elf, October 2025
Work can be a place of identity and belonging, but it can also be a source of stress that undermines mental health, especially when the workplace culture is unsupportive or hostile. For LGBTQ+ workers, there are additional risk factors, including experiences of exclusion, stigma, and discrimination that continue to shape daily working lives.
Psychedelics and Queerness: Do we have a meaningful voice?
The Mental Elf, September 2025
Queerness and psychedelics have always been intertwined in complex ways. These substances have carried both harm and hope for LGBTQIA+ communities. Bartlett and colleagues set out to explore what the “meaningful, non-pathologising” inclusion of queer voices could look like in psychedelics research.
Blogs / Commentary / Editorials / Opinion Pieces
Biphobia is sending our community back into the closet — here’s what we can do
Queer AF, January 2026
Although bi people comprise half of the LGBTQIA+ community according to the last census, there are proportionately few bi-specific spaces. Not only is our identity constantly invalidated, but so is the discrimination that comes with it.
Building Everyday Support for LGBTQIA+ Professionals
Practice Business, January 2026
It is vital that the workplace becomes more than just a place of employment – it must also be an environment of care, acceptance and safety. Yet, in today’s politically charged climate, fear and anxiety among LGBTQIA+ people is often heightened. Acts of visible allyship like joining Pride or signposting safe spaces can be meaningful when they come from a place of genuine intent – but real support goes far deeper than that.
Don't underestimate our grandparents' generation in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights
Queer AF, January 2026
We’re often taught to treat our grandparents’ as people to be wary of when we come out – people whose reaction might be awkward or quietly devastating. We are taught to manage expectations, to soften language and prepare for disappointment, with the familiar refrain that ‘they are from a different time’. But that approach overlooks the nuances, care and love that the elder generation can have for queer family members.
The Bi culture: does bisexuality exist?
Lampoon, December 2025
Within the LGBTQ+ community, bisexual people often describe a double marginalization – erased by heteronormativity and distrusted by the queer movement. Psychologist and researcher Julia Shaw defines this as a ‘social invisibility mechanism’: a tendency to simplify attraction into fixed categories, refusing the middle ground.
Useful websites
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.
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.
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.
LGBTQ+ Book Club
Intrested in joining our LGBTQ+ book club? Drop us an email and get on the list! Our bi-monthly book club is a chance for you to meet people from your community across Pan Leeds. This 30 minute slot will push you out of your literatre comfort zone while still giving an opportunity for a mental well being break.
Our friendly library team can signpost you to local book shops or your local public library to track down a copy.
Struggling for time but still want to come along? Read at your own pace or not all! This is a wellbeing club where you decide how much to commit.
Our next online meet up will be in March where we will be reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.
The day Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison opened the Whistle Stop Cafe, the town took a turn for the better. It was the Depression and that cafe was a home from home for many of us. You could get eggs, grits, bacon, ham, coffee and a smile for 25 cents. Ruth was just the sweetest girl you ever met. And Idgie? She was a character, all right. You never saw anyone so headstrong. But how anybody could have thought she murdered that man is beyond me.
Profession and specialty networks and resources
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.
Further reading & books.
Check out our own LGBT+ book collection consisting of both clinical and wellbeing books.
Podcasts
“I never leave the pizza boxes” Ally Actions with Karen Catlin.
Michael Baran. The Culture Advantage. 04 November 2025. (Podcast)
When you think of being an ally, what comes to mind? Are you thinking that being an ally means being respectful to everyone? In this podcast episode, Karen Catlin answers questions that so many people have about allyship. She clarifies how allyship really means taking action and how allyship is essential for building workplaces where everyone thrives.
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.
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.
Local networks and plans
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
Library Services
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.
OpenAthens
An OpenAthens account gives all NHS staff and learners access to a wide range of online resources.