As Pride Month highlights the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, public health experts say a less visible challenge continues to affect millions of Americans: unequal access to healthcare. For many Black and Latino LGBTQ+ people, finding affordable, respectful, and culturally competent care remains a significant obstacle, contributing to persistent health disparities in areas ranging from HIV prevention to mental health treatment and gender-affirming care.

Researchers and advocates have long pointed to the effects of overlapping forms of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. While healthcare access has improved for many Americans over the past decade, studies show that LGBTQ+ people of color continue to face barriers that can delay treatment, discourage preventive care, and worsen health outcomes.

According to a 2024 survey from KFF, LGBTQ+ adults are significantly more likely than non-LGBTQ+ adults to report unfair or disrespectful treatment from healthcare providers. One-third of LGBTQ+ adults surveyed said they had experienced unfair treatment by a doctor or healthcare provider in the previous three years, compared with 15 percent of non-LGBTQ+ adults. Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ adults reported particularly high rates of discrimination tied to both their racial or ethnic background and their LGBTQ+ identity.

The consequences of those experiences extend beyond a single medical visit. KFF researchers found that many LGBTQ+ adults who encountered discrimination became less likely to seek medical care, switched providers, or reported that their health worsened as a result of negative healthcare experiences. Nearly four in ten LGBTQ+ adults said a negative interaction with a healthcare provider made them less likely to seek care in the future.

Health experts say those findings help explain why disparities persist across multiple health conditions. Mental health remains one of the clearest examples. Black LGBTQ+ adults experience higher rates of depression and psychological distress than their non-LGBTQ+ peers, according to research from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Economic instability, discrimination, and social stigma often compound the challenges of accessing mental health services, particularly in underserved communities where providers may already be scarce.

Addressing HIV and Access to Prevention

The disparities are especially visible in HIV prevention and treatment. Although major advances in medicine have made HIV more preventable and manageable than ever before, Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of the epidemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that gay and bisexual men account for roughly two-thirds of new HIV infections in the United States. Black and Hispanic gay and bisexual men remain among the populations most affected. The agency notes that systemic barriers such as racism, stigma, discrimination, poverty, and housing instability can make it more difficult to access HIV testing, preventive medications such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and ongoing treatment.

Public health officials have repeatedly emphasized that these disparities are not driven by individual behavior alone. Structural factors, including access to healthcare, insurance coverage, transportation, and trust in medical institutions, play a major role in determining who receives preventive care and who does not. The CDC has stated that reducing HIV infections nationwide will require targeted investments in communities that have historically been underserved by the healthcare system.

Transgender people of color face additional challenges. Studies have found that Black and Latino transgender individuals are more likely to delay medical care because of concerns about discrimination, lack of insurance coverage, and difficulty finding providers trained in gender-affirming care. These barriers can affect both routine healthcare and specialized services that support gender transition and overall well-being.

Advocates say the solution requires more than expanding insurance coverage. It also involves building trust between healthcare systems and communities that have often experienced discrimination. That includes increasing the number of culturally competent providers, improving workforce diversity, expanding access to mental health services, and ensuring that healthcare environments are welcoming to patients of all backgrounds and identities.

Organizations focused on health equity argue that progress is possible when healthcare systems recognize the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color rather than treating race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity as separate issues. As Pride Month celebrations continue across the country, experts say healthcare equity remains one of the most important—and unfinished—civil rights and public health challenges facing Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities. Improving access to respectful, affirming care could help close longstanding health gaps and ensure that more people receive the services they need to live healthier lives.