Parity in Public Health

Due largely to social issues such as bias and discrimination, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have increased risk for certain health problems.

LGBT people are twice as likely as others to smoke heavily. Lesbians have a greater risk for various cancers and cardiovascular disease than other women do. And LGBT youth are three to seven times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth.

Equality Texas supports legislation that directs the Texas Department of Health to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in its plan to eliminate health disparities for all Texans.