Straight for Equality in Healthcare invites you to join the growing number of healthcare providers who want to find out more about what it means to be an ally in healthcare, learn more about the specific healthcare concerns/needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community, and/or look for everyday actions they can take to support LGBTQ+ people at their practice.

Healthcare providers across the country already know that when patients feel comfortable that communication and rapport will improve and in turn benefit the care that the patient receives. Some added benefits of being an ally to people who are LGBTQ+ in healthcare include greater patient retention, improved treatment adherence and compliance, and increased patient satisfaction. And everyone knows that good news spreads fast. Satisfied patients are more likely to recommend your practice to their friends and family.

Being an ally in healthcare doesn’t mean you have to be an activist and it doesn’t mean that you have to march in this year's Pride Parade. You don’t have to become the “gay practice” with rainbows all over the place, but instead do your best to provide culturally competent care and deploy a few subtle hints that can make a world of difference for your LGBTQ+ patients. What we are asking is that you are willing to learn more about people who are LGBTQ+, their experiences, and the issues they often face. That you take some time for self-reflection and acknowledge your own discomfort or barriers to being fully supportive of your LGBTQ+ patients and their families. And that you try to make small everyday changes in order to serve your LGBTQ+ patients in the best way that you can.