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Messaging Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Inequities: A Qualitative Exploration

Background. There are substantial health inequities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people compared to their straight/cisgendered counterparts. As evidence of these inequities has become unequivocal, better strategies to address them are needed. One approach is to leverage communications and media advocacy efforts to raise awareness about inequities. However, some research suggests that highlighting health inequities can have negative consequences. This study aimed to explore how LGBT leaders view communication about health inequities. Method. We used an inductive qualitative approach and conducted 12 semistructured phone interviews with LGBT community leaders in North Carolina between September and October 2017. Results. Four themes emerged in the data. There was support for reporting health differences between LGBT and straight/cisgendered people to raise awareness of health issues facing LGBT communities. However, participants were concerned about the stigmatizing effects of messages and worried about their effectiveness. Conclusion. Emphasizing health differences between LGBT and straight people can be problematic; our findings suggest that health educators (1) must be cautious, (2) must be aware of the audience, and (3) should consider focusing messages on finding a solution to the identified problem. Future work should explore how to best craft messages that address health inequities for LGBT communities.