Ohio will host more than 100 Pride events during the month of June. They stretch from Put-In-Bay in the north to Portsmouth in the south, and from Celina in the west to Warren in the east. The growing number of events remind us that LGBTQ+ folks are part of every community in the Buckeye State.
Unfortunately, trans and non-binary folks in rural areas may be celebrating Pride in places where few healthcare providers can or will provide gender-affirming care. This includes hormone replacement therapy or gender-affirming surgeries. According to a study by the Movement Advancement Project, roughly one in six trans folks live in rural areas. One in three report experiencing discrimination by a healthcare provider. As a result, rural trans folks are three times as likely as all transgender adults to travel more than 25 miles to access healthcare.
Even if primary care options exist, many providers in rural areas do not have the knowledge to provide transition care. Others refuse to administer transition care. In one study, 77 percent of medical students felt they lacked competence in treating trans and non-binary patients. This figure is not surprising, given that four in 10 medical schools provide three or fewer classes on LGBTQ+ health.
When hearing about these barriers to care, some may say, “Well, just move to Columbus/Cleveland/Cincinnati.” This statement ignores the vast differences in the cost of living between urban and rural areas and the fact that many people prefer to live in rural areas, for a variety of reasons. Access to transition care should not just be for trans and non-binary people who live in big cities.
So what can we do?
If you know a provider who would like to become more affirming toward trans and non-binary patients, the Equitas Health Institute can help. Please share the Institute’s contact form to set up a consultation about training or consulting. You can also join the fight to protect gender-affirming care in Ohio by visiting the Protect GAC website.
Information & Resources
- Book a training with the Equitas Health Institute
- Protect Gender-Affirming Care
- Equitas Health’s Guide to all things Pride
- Movement Advancement Project: “Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America”
- CBS News “Transgender People in Rural America Struggle to Find Doctors Willing or Able to Provide Care”