Pride in Prevention: Advancing Kidney Health Equity for the LGBTQIA+ Community

Pride Month is a time of celebration, reflection, and resilience. It is also a moment to acknowledge the ongoing barriers to health care that many in the LGBTQIA+ community still face.

While June offers a chance to recognize the strength and diversity of LGBTQIA+ identities, it also serves as an important reminder that affirming, accessible health care remains out of reach for many. For patients managing chronic conditions like kidney disease, these barriers can have serious consequences.

Whether it’s fear of discrimination or limited access to affirming providers, LGBTQIA+ individuals often navigate a health care system that doesn’t fully support them. These challenges can prevent early intervention for conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, two of the most common causes of kidney disease.

And when someone is facing a diagnosis like end-stage renal disease, which requires a network of dedicated caregivers and long-term medical support, having a trusted and inclusive care team is essential.

Everyone deserves high-quality, compassionate care. That’s why the Northwest Kidney Council and its members support the following:

• Use of affirming, respectful language when engaging with all patients.

• Inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals in clinical research and patient outreach.

• Nondiscrimination policies that protect sexual orientation and gender identity.

  
  

If you’re looking to learn more about how unequal care affects LGBTQIA+ kidney patients, this resource from the National Kidney Foundation is a great place to start.

At the heart of Pride is the belief that everyone deserves to live with dignity and that includes access to necessary health care. So this month, and every month, the Northwest Kidney Council and its members recommit to this important work.

Happy Pride, from all of us at the Northwest Kidney Council.