Cultural Humility in the Care of Individuals Who Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer

Health care providers’ knowledge about the health issues of individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) has increased in the past few years, but significant gaps still exist. Nurses and other clinicians may be unfamiliar with current concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as with current language and terminology. Health care settings that lack informed staff or have environments that are not inclusive can influence the quality of care delivered or whether care is pursued at all. This article describes the application of cultural humility in the care of people who are LGBTQ, reviews key concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity, and provides definitions of common terms. Two brief case examples are provided, as are suggestions for creating welcoming and inclusive settings and providing person-centered care.