document: Report urges study of gay , transgender health WASHINGTON - Scientists only recently learned how certain diseases affect women differently than men , and blacks differently than whites . Now a major new report says it 's time to study the unique health needs of gay and transgender people , too . Stigma often keeps lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender people from seeking health care - and when they do , there 's little research to guide doctors in their treatment , the Institute of Medicine reported Thursday . Changing that starts with a seemingly simple step : Researchers should start asking people about their sexual orientation and gender identity in all government-funded health studies , the panel said . The report is intended as technical advice to the National Institutes of Health . But to the gay-rights community , the recommendations from such a prestigious scientific group promise to legitimize a quest for greater health equality . '' `` This community is just ignored , '' '' said Brian Moulton of the Human Rights Campaign . '' `` This is going to spark a long-term commitment to dealing with these issues . '' '' The chairman of the report , however , anticipates some political criticism . '' `` This is a scientific report , not an advocacy report , '' '' said Dr. Robert Graham , professor of family medicine at the University of Cincinnati . '' `` Whatever your politics , as long as you accept the premise that every American ought to have the opportunity for the same health status and the same degree of health , then you really have to understand what the different influences are that may keep certain populations away from having that opportunity . '' '' The IOM panel could n't even find a good estimate of how many people identify themselves as lesbian , gay , bisexual or transgender . It stressed that these are separate populations that require separate assessments of their needs at different ages . California is one of the few states where researchers collect data on LGBT issues . Last week , the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research reported that older gays , lesbians and bisexuals are more prone to high blood pressure and psychological distress than heterosexuals . Moreover , they are more likely to live alone , without children or partners to provide care and support . Nationally , what is known ? The AIDS virus remains a threat to young men , particularly black men , who have sex with men , the report noted . But the IOM panel also identified far broader issues : Increased risks of depression , suicide attempts , homelessness and being victims of violence . Possibly higher rates of smoking and substance use . Lesbians and bisexual women may get less preventive care and have higher rates of obesity and breast cancer . In addition , laws barring same-sex marriage often limit access to health insurance , and there are few health providers trained to treat transgender patients in particular in a culturally competent manner , the report said . AP
extractive_keyphrases: guide transgender health advocacy treatment higher time bisexual scientific report american anticipates some political criticism transgender campaign may keep certain samesex marriage often broader simple health status estimate violence scientists spark homelessness require sex technical advice human children separate institute of medicine community national diseases affect women accept people washington report dr robert unique health health insurance seeking health care health depression prone breast cancer high blood pressure moulton identity research degree competent manner study lesbian premise victims longterm commitment panel chairman major distress addition opportunity aids sexual orientation iom researchers men california gay differently than whites stigma lgbt
abstractive_keyphrases: transgender people governmentfunded health heterosexuals moreover human rights campaign health care governmentfunded health studies diseases affect women differently lesbian gay bisexual national institutes of health brian moulton ucla center for health policy research gay transgender health dr robert graham particularly black men