Rural Health
Research Gateway

Research Alert: June 28, 2022

New Case Studies on LGBTQ+ Health in Rural Areas

Small-Town Pride Celebrations Supporting Social Connectedness & Well-Being for LGBTQ+ Rural Residents

Feelings of social connectedness and belonging vary by sexual orientation and gender identity. For example, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults report lower social cohesion in their neighborhoods, which may be perpetuated by discrimination and homophobia from members of their community. In addition, recent research found that rural LGB adults reported the lowest levels of having their social and emotional needs met, compared with urban LGB adults, urban heterosexual adults, and rural heterosexual adults. This case series highlights examples of two small-town Pride celebrations that contribute to social connectedness and belonging for rural lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community members.

Rural Community Organizations Building Inclusive Environments for LGBTQ+ Residents

Community organizations play a key role in providing services and programming in rural communities. This case study series highlights examples of rural community organizations providing LGBTQ+ welcoming and inclusive programming and services from different regions across the U.S.

Improving Access to LGBTQIA+-Friendly Care in Rural Areas

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+) individuals face many barriers to accessing health care, including lack of health insurance, a shortage of health care providers that are skilled in treating LGBTQIA+ patients, as well as stigma and discrimination in health care settings. This case study series features two organizations that are working toward improving health care for rural LGBTQIA+ patients.

Contact Information:

Mariana Story Tuttle, MPH
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 612.626.8401
tuttl090@umn.edu

Additional Resources of Interest: