Meeting the Needs of the Gay and Lesbian Community

Abstract

Gay and lesbian people experience many life circumstances differently as compared with those of their heterosexual counterparts. This premise extends to the seeking, accessing, and utilization of human services by members of the gay and lesbian community. A review of the empirical literature indicates that gay and lesbian consumers of mental and physical health services oftentimes encounter obstacles when seeking care, whether for themselves or their families, within human service organizations. Types of services represented include psychotherapy/counseling, addiction treatment, pediatric care, and gynecologic care. The authors conclude with social work implications, including recommendations for practice and policy, and future research.

Key Words:

• Gay
• lesbian
• human services
• organizations
• physical health
• mental health
• health care