Optional Grouping: Healthcare

LGBTQ+ persons might have healthcare needs that are specific and unique to their experiences. Some of the common healthcare issues are:

• Mental health issues
• Sexual health issues
• Physical issues with respect to gender-altering surgeries

There may also be a social bias present, which may make accessing adequate healthcare difficult. For example, a therapist may refuse to treat someone because they are gay or a transgender person.  This may result in people avoiding treatment in a timely manner, or may result in a person not disclosing their true gender/sexual identity, which may lead to added complications. This is why it is important for to understand your rights while accessing healthcare.

If a person faces any discrimination while accessing medical or psychological healthcare, they can take action to alleviate the problem. Read for more options in our explainer “What are the options if there is discrimination and harassment by medical personnel against LGBTQ+ persons?“.

Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on mental health issues which some readers may find disturbing.

Not being a straight person/cisgendered is not grounds for being diagnosed with a mental disorder. This means merely being a LGBTQ+ person does not make someone mentally ill.((National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India & Ors. (AIR 2014 SC 1863 )). However, when a person experience significant distress due to the difference between the gender  assigned at birth and gender that they identify with, they may be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder.((ICD.Codes, ICD-10-CM Code F64.8, https://icd.codes/icd10cm/F648; Section 2(s), Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 )).

In India, an LGBTQ+ have some rights with respect to mental health:

• A person cannot be categorised as mentally ill merely if they do not conform to the moral, social, cultural, work or political values or religious beliefs of the community.((Section 3 (3), Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 )) For example, a person is not mentally ill just because they are gay.
• A person has a right to mental healthcare services offered by mental healthcare establishments funded/run by the government((Section 18 (1), Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 )).
• Healthcare services cannot be denied to anyone, as referred to above, on the basis of sex, gender or sexual orientation, etc.((Section 18 (2), Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 )).

If a person faces any discrimination while accessing medical or psychological healthcare, they can take action to alleviate the problem. Read for more options in our explainer “What are the options if there is discrimination and harassment by medical personnel against LGBTQ+ persons?“.

Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on sexual health issues which some readers may find disturbing.

A person may be at risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases (STI/STD) like gonorrhea, syphilis, AIDS, etc., if they are sexually active. The risk of contraction may be higher if a person fall into certain categories. For example, in a report, the National AIDS Control Program¹ identified Men Having Sex With Men (MSM) and transgender persons as one of the high-risk groups for HIV/AIDS.

If a person is sexually active, they should speak to their doctor about STI prevention, screening tests recommended, etc.

Government-Aided Schemes and Clinics

The government has come up with various schemes to help people suffering from STIs, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation. Please see here for a state-wise list of clinics providing free services to such persons.

If a person faces any discrimination while accessing medical or psychological healthcare, they can take action to alleviate the problem. Read for more options in our explainer “What are the options if there is discrimination and harassment by medical personnel against LGBTQ+ persons?“.

1. National Aids Control Organization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India http://naco.gov.in/ [↩]