title: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Families.
abstract: Families headed by sexual minorities encounter unique barriers to care and health equity despite greater cultural acceptance and visibility. Empirical research suggests that children in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) families develop and function comparably to those from traditional families. In helping families, awareness of family structure is important. The health care provider should be familiar with family composition, and their community, social supports, race/ethnic concerns, financial issues, and other vulnerabilities. Cultivating an office culture and practice that supports all patients to comfortably discuss their family history, interpersonal experiences, needs, and vulnerabilities is essential for excellence in clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address: mail@cecilwebstermd.com.
authors.forename: Cecil R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Telingator
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Assisted reproduction; Child and adolescent development in LGBT families; Children with LGBT parents; LGBT parents; LGBT parents and the health care system; Microaggressions; Race and ethnicity in LGBT families; Transgender parents and well-being