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Out Boulder County creates health care database for LGBTQ+ community

Out Boulder County hopes to increase understanding of the LGBTQ+ community and health needs through the database.
Out Boulder (3 of 5)
The now-closed OUT Boulder office in Longmont (Photo by Matt Maenpaa)

Out Boulder County has begun efforts to create a LGBTQ-friendly health care resource and is seeking community involvement to make it happen. The database will build on an existing website, Trans Health Boulder County, in hopes of bettering health outcomes for the LGBTQ community at large.

Those outcomes are much worse than for cisgender and heterosexual individuals. A 2017 NPR poll found that 31% of trans-identified people lacked regular access to health care and 22% said they avoided the doctor out of fear of discrimination.

“It can be incredibly intimidating to seek care from your doctor if you don't trust them,” said Josie Nixon, Out Boulder County’s LGBTQ health liaison. “When you’re going to the doctor, you’re already sick or needing help, putting you in a vulnerable position. In order to feel safe and cared for, which is what a health care provider is supposed to be doing for us, we have to focus on lessening the barriers to finding an inclusive doctor.”

Trans Health Boulder County began years ago in an effort to mitigate that fear. The database compiled health care providers who had already been vetted for their knowledge and acceptance of trans and gender non-conforming identities. This way, individuals could feel safe and know their needs would be addressed when seeking out care.

Out Boulder County initially owned Trans Health Boulder County, and then Boulder County Public Health oversaw it for some time. Recently Out Boulder County took back the site back. With lots of help from volunteers, the site got a significant overhaul to bring it to its current condition. It will stay active for a while, but its data will eventually live under the broader LGBTQ health site.

Michal Duffy, Out Boulder County’s education and program manager, also is involved in creating the new database. Duffy referenced the concept of “trans broken bone syndrome” — though it applies to other LGBTQ identities as well — where someone seeks care for a health issue unrelated to their gender identity, such as broken arm, yet a health care professional will redirect attention toward that person’s queerness.

“It's inappropriate and makes people feel dehumanized,” Duffy said, adding “it can be hard to advocate for yourself” in that sort of power dynamic.

Diversity of voices needed

To create the new site, Nixon first has to find more queer-friendly providers. That’s where the community comes in. Nixon is actively looking for a diverse set of volunteers to help in the identity-oriented focus groups. These identities are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/nonbinary, HIV-positive, unhoused and youth. Nixon emphasized that the sooner the groups are filled, the faster the database will be available for the community.

Each group of four to seven volunteers will work with Out Boulder County staffers like Nixon and Duffy to create a form providers can fill out, to confirm they are knowledgeable and open to an identity’s specific needs. Some examples Nixon offered would include questions on whether there are gender-inclusive restrooms at the office or how many trans folks the provider has treated.

Once the forms are drafted, Nixon will consult with providers to make sure the forms are clear — “we don't want to make something that nobody wants to fill out.” Nixon, the project leader, said while a trans-specific website has served a valuable purpose, adding more categories helps serve Out Boulder County’s desire to make the database as inclusive as possible.

The nonprofit frequently gets requests for LGBTQ-safe health care referrals, and Duffy said rather than keeping it as insider knowledge, “that information belongs to the public.” Duffy hopes the updated database will “raise the bar” for providers to be competent and effective in serving the community.

And even if a provider doesn’t feel they know enough about LGBTQ needs, Duffy said, there’s always the chance to pursue professional development and training to improve. The database will be updated regularly, hopefully reflecting an increased understanding of the LGBTQ community and health needs.

“It’s not just enough to be nice to gay people,” Duffy said. “We need awareness of health issues and disparities that face our community specifically.”

To get involved with a focus group, go to the application form.