General introductory trainings on LGBTQ+ patient centered care that are intended to be similar to the Introduction to your LGBTQ+ Patients training offered by the HRC Foundation should be designed to introduce healthcare professionals to accurate and up to date information about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning community and the best practices to serve them. The trainings should be designed with the following learning objectives in mind.

By the end of the training the participants will be able to:

• Define terminology and describe concepts associated with LGBTQ+ populations including understanding the difference between sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and biological sex.
• Describe the ways in which marginalization and discrimination impact the health of LGBTQ+ people.
• Identify strategies to create a more welcoming and inclusive healthcare environment for LGBTQ+ people.

At a minimum, trainings should cover the following topics:

• Introduction / review of LGBTQ+ terminology
• Difference between biological sex, gender, gender identity and gender expression
• LGBTQ+ health discrimination and disparities
• Systemic and personal ways to create a welcoming and inclusive healthcare environment for LGBTQ+ people

Optional topics may include:

• Structural systems of oppression and intersectionality
• Specific health concerns of LGBTQ+ communities
• LGBTQ+ demographics
• Laws, policies and accreditation standards that impact LGBTQ+ people and their health

Facilities wishing to create their own training are highly encouraged to reference the guide LGBTQ Cultural Competency Trainings created by a national panel of experts in a process co-led by the National LGBT Cancer Network and Whitman-Walker Institute. This best practices manual provides a clear roadmap for designing a wide range of trainings, includes guidelines for selecting the best training methods, and provides a clear evidence-based foundation for developing evaluation tools. Most importantly, it offers a simple setup of adaptable building blocks to design a top-notch LGBTQ+ cultural competency training, all based on measurable goals of changing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in health and human service providers.

In addition to introductory type courses, other trainings specific to LGBTQ+ people and to meeting their healthcare needs will be considered.

These trainings must:

• Be specific to healthcare settings
• Include content directed toward improving practice with LGBTQ+ communities by increasing providers’ knowledge, skills and/or comfort level
• Be grounded in evidence as demonstrated by citations of relevant research and best practice guidelines

Examples include:

• Trainings specific to creating a welcoming environment and/or meeting the healthcare needs of the transgender population
• Trainings specific to working with LGBTQ+ families in a healthcare environment
• Trainings on meeting specific clinical needs of LGBTQ+ people (trainings that are clinical in nature will only be eligible for HEI credit if they have been approved for CME accreditation)