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Description
This project addresses the problem of exclusion and discrimination of LGBT+ people in the health service. LGBT+ patients’ rights are violated due to deficient knowledge and prejudice among medical personnel. Examples of these discriminative practices include not admitting homosexual men to be blood or bone marrow donors, an HIV test requirement for admission of a patient, and disclosing patients’ sexual orientation. Non-heteronormative women face obstacles in obtaining assisted reproductive technology and perinatal care, and are not referred for cytology tests. Transgender people in particular experience great discomfort and stress because they face obstacles in access to gender transition or due to use of inappropriate names and pronouns.The Project Promoter will organise national workshops lasting a few days for 30 medical students on healthcare, reproductive and sexual rights, and healthcare needs of LGBT+ people. The Project Promoter’s local offices will also conduct training for people in queer organisations on preventative healthcare, rules on self-examination, sexually transmitted diseases, mental health, and LGBT+ patient rights. The Project Promoter will attend a minimum of seven gay pride marches at which it will raise awareness of LGBT+ people preventative healthcare. It will also act to distribute its standpoints on sexual orientation and gender identity, and on inclusive medical awareness among medical personnel.The project will primarily benefit LGBT+ people, and improve their awareness of preventative healthcare and patient rights, and give them comfort in making use of medical services. The measures are also intended for medical students to develop their competences with respect to needs and working with LGBT+ patients.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of exclusion and discrimination of LGBT+ people in health care. Lack of knowledge and prejudice among medical personnel lead to violations of the rights of LGBT+ patients and clients. Examples of such discriminatory practices include excluding gay men from blood or bone marrow donors, forcing LGBT+ patients and patients to take an HIV test, or disclosing information about their sexual orientation. Non-heteronormative women have difficult access to assisted reproductive techniques, experience difficulties in perinatal care, and are not referred for cytology tests. A great deal of discomfort and stress is experienced by transgender people in particular - they are hindered from accessing the transition process, use incorrect names and pronouns.
As part of the project, the Project Promoter organized a multi-day nationwide workshop for 33 medical students on health, reproductive and sexual rights, health needs of LGBT+ people, and inclusive language. The Project Promoters’ local chapters also conducted trainings for people from queer organizations on preventive health care, principles of self-examination, sexually transmitted infections, mental health, and the rights of LGBT+ patients and clients. The Project Promoter participated in four Equality Marches, during which it provided education on LGBT+ health prevention.
The project primarily benefited medical students and LGBT+ people. Their awareness of preventive health care and the rights of male and female patients has increased, and their comfort with receiving medical care has increased. Medical students developed their competence in the needs and work with LGBT+ patients and patients.