Speakers - Rebecca Hoffman (National Policy Lead, LGBT Health and Wellbeing) and Chris Harkins (Public Health Programme Manager, Glasgow Centre for Population Health)  

Public Health across the UK has long investigated health inequalities between social groups as defined by socioeconomic status and ethnicity, for example. However, examination of the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other identities (LGBT+) groups, in comparison to wider society, has occupied a lower profile within public health research and policy.

Despite this, an ever-developing evidence base within the UK and beyond, makes clear that LGBT+ people experience a range of health inequalities in terms of health outcomes, health risk factors and access to and experience of health care services compared to heterosexual and cisgender populations.

This evidence scoping review is a collaboration between the GCPH and LGBT Health and Wellbeing. The review has been undertaken to illuminate the fundamental drivers of health inequalities among LGBT+ groups and to examine the specific unmet public health needs within this diverse population. The scoping review groups and presents the evidence relating to LGBT+ health inequalities under seven interwoven themes. These are: 1. Data inadequacies; 2. Life course discrimination, intolerance and microaggressions; 3. Mental health and wellbeing; 4. Adolescence and mental health; 5. Physical health and risk factors; 6. Healthcare access and experiences and; 7. Health in older age.

The policy implications of the evidence review have been carefully considered and developed. A particular focus therein has been to consider how key Scottish institutions, such as local and national government and health care services may unwittingly uphold systems, cultures and practice which create barriers in accessing services for LGBT+ groups. The subsequent recommendations have been carefully developed to set out realistic actions essential to overcoming these barriers.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This event is run by the Queer Minds Scotland Network (funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh) but we welcome attendees based all across the globe. This workshop is open to anyone interested in the topics including community members, practitioners, policy makers, students and researchers.

A note on safety and inclusion: Queer Minds Scotland is a fully inclusive network and space of all LGBTQIA+ communities. We therefore take a zero tolerance approach to any discrimination that compromises the safety of the space i.e. transphobia, racism, ableism - and reserve the right to remove participants who may express such views. 

Joining instructions for Zoom will be sent on the morning of the event.