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Home , Gender, Gender identity

New and Identity Questions: Information for Patients

Thank you for taking the time to complete these questions. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to speak with your provider.

This project was supported by the Resources and Services We recently added new questions about Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement number sexual orientation and U30CS22742, Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs) for $449,985.00 with 0% of to our registration forms. the total NCA project financed with non-federal sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy Our health center thinks it is important to of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, learn this information from our patients. or the U.S. Government. Inside are some frequently asked questions about why we are asking these questions and how the information will be used.

NATIONAL LGBT HEALTH CENTER A PROGRAM OF THE FENWAY INSTITUTE

NLHEC-3 Q: WHY AM I BEING ASKED ABOUT Q: WHAT DOES MEAN? Q: HOW DO I CHOOSE THE CORRECT MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND Transgender people have a gender identity INFORMATION? GENDER IDENTITY? that is not the same as their at birth. There are no right or wrong answers. If you Every patient has unique health needs. don’t find an answer that fits, you can choose • Transgender (FTM) describes someone Research shows that , , bisexual, “Something else” or “,” or you can talk assigned at birth who has a male and transgender (LGBT) people have health with your provider. gender identity needs that differ from the rest of the Q: WHO WILL SEE THIS INFORMATION? population. also experience higher • Transgender (MTF) describes Your provider(s) will see this information, and rates of certain health issues compared to someone at birth who has it will become part of your medical record. In others. Learning about sexual orientation a female gender identity addition, a few other staff will have access to and gender identity will help us to deliver this information. Your information is appropriate health services and culturally • Genderqueer describes someone who confidential and protected by law, just like all sensitive care to LGBT patients as well as has a gender identity that is neither male of your other health information. all of our patients. nor female, or is a combination of male and female. Q: WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO SHARE THIS Q: WHAT IS GENDER IDENTITY? INFORMATION? Gender identity is a person’s inner sense Q: WHAT IS SEXUAL ORIENTATION? You have the option to check the box “Choose of their gender. For example, a person may Sexual orientation is how a person describes not to disclose.” Later, your provider may think of themselves as male, as female, as their emotional and to others. ask you these questions privately during your a combination of male and female, or as • Heterosexual (straight) describes women who visit. You can choose whether to share this another gender. are emotionally and sexually attracted to men, information at that point, and/or you can ask and men who are emotionally and sexually your provider more questions. attracted to women. Q: HOW WILL THIS INFORMATION BE USED? • Gay describes a person who is emotionally Your provider(s) will use this information to and sexually attracted to people of their help meet your health care needs. In addition, own gender. It is most commonly used when gathering this information from all patients talking about men. allows the health center to seeif there are gaps in care or services across different populations. • Lesbian describes a woman who is emotionally Learning this tells us if we need to improve the and sexually attracted to other women. care we give to our patients. • Bisexual describes a person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to people of their own gender and people of other .