Episode #1
Ending LGBT Invisibility in Healthcare
Monday, January 12, 2009

Due to real or perceived discrimination by health care providers and institutions, many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people avoid or delay care.  Dr. Harvey Makadon, Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School joins co-hosts Dr. Richard Friend and Judy Seidenstein to discuss ending LGBT invisibility in healthcare and examine strategies for reducing health disparities based on barriers related to sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression.

Dr. Makadon, lead editor of The Fenway Guide – the first American medical textbook dedicated to LGBT health, addresses the following questions with Judy and Richard:

• What will it take to crack the code of silence for LGBT people in healthcare?
• How can healthcare professionals provide a climate of care for LGBT people?
• Should healthcare practitioners inquire about a patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity and expression?  Why does it matter?
• What can other industries learn from healthcare about creating a welcoming environment for LGBT employees and clients?