title: The impact of coming out on health and health care access: the experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and two-spirit people.
abstract: This paper documents the experiences of health care access among gay, lesbian, bisexual and Two-Spirit (glbt-s) people in Canada. In particular, it addresses the importance of coming out as glbt-s to the development of good health and appropriate care. The paper reflects upon the impact of hiding one's sexual orientation on glbt-s people's experience of and use of health care resources and the responsibility of health care institutions to address homophobia and create supportive environments in order to facilitate the coming out process in health care settings. The central role of health care policy makers with regard to the articulation of gay-positive policy and practice in health care institutions is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: McGill School of Social Work, Montreal, QC, Canada. sbrotm1@po-box.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Shari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brotman
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jalbert
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D012449:Safety; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012944:Social Support; D014505:Urban Population