Using cultural humility in care provided for LGBTQ people

People who identify as sexually or gender diverse often fail to find care that is inclusive and unbiased. Cultural humility provides a framework as an approach to care that includes the principles of lifelong learning, self-reflection, the recognition and challenge of power imbalances, and institutional accountability. This approach provides a valuable heuristic for clinicians interested in combatting biases and promoting inclusivity. Cultural humility was first described as an approach to care in 1998 when health care providers in the United States were searching for a way to better meet the needs of a culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse population. The approach can be applied by providers, researchers, advocates, and others when working with individuals or populations different from one's own in any cultural context such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity. Within the framework of cultural humility, knowledge is viewed as something to be obtained over a lifetime as opposed to reaching an endpoint of a sufficient level of understanding. The practice of self-reflection is a component of lifelong learning and is used to evaluate and inform future care. Institutions play a role in ensuring that the care provided to sexually and gender diverse people is unbiased and inclusive. Institutions can live out their stated value of nondiscrimination by embracing a power structure that is inclusive, opposing public policies that marginalize sexually and gender diverse people, and providing a community presence that is diverse and welcoming.