American Cancer Society finds ‘homophobia’ and ‘discrimination’ can ‘increase cancer risk’ in LGBTQ+ people
Written by laserteam on March 20, 2024
(Fox News) – A leading cancer research organization released a first-of-its-kind study outlining how LGBTQ+ individuals face an “elevated prevalence” of certain risk factors linked to the disease.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), there are certain “minority stress” factors associated with LGBTQ+ individuals, such as smoking, excess body weight, HIV and access to gender transition surgical procedures that exacerbate their vulnerability to developing cancer.
“Perhaps the greatest health disparity faced by LGBTQ+ communities is the presumption-of-care gap, which is the fear that a provider will refuse care due to gender identity or sexual orientation,” the organization found in its 2024 Cancer Facts and Figures report.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, ACS said the new LGBTQ+ section of the study “is meant to start the conversation around the need to improve the routine collection and reporting of sexual orientation and gender identity data at all levels of health care.”
There are currently nine states where providers can refuse to perform gender transition procedures for transgender people.
The 84-page report also found that compared to the general public, “LGBTQ+ cancer survivors are more likely to have poor physical and mental health, have higher prevalence of cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use, and frequently experience homophobia and discomfort expressed by health care providers.”
LGBTQ+ individuals face a barrage of “minority stress,” including experiences of “overt prejudice, rejection, discrimination, and internalized homophobia.”
“More than half of LGBTQ+ adults have experienced harassment, including slurs, microaggressions, sexual harassment, and violence, and 1 in 3 have experienced discrimination simply trying to use the bathroom,” the report notes. “This discrimination is most common among people of color and extends to health care settings.”
“Exposure to these stressors may lead to increased prevalence of mental health or substance use disorders and unhealthy behaviors that increase cancer risk,” the report stated.
