Despite often being left out of media discussions on the current pandemic, the incarcerated population in the US has been disproportionately affected by coronavirus. Many American prisons and jails have an issue with overcrowding and unclean conditions, thereby leading to high rates of exposure among both inmates and correctional staff (Prison Policy Initiative, 2020). As a result, volunteers, visitors and vendors are also at increased risk of exposure. This has made it difficult to contain and track infection of the virus, posing a constant safety issue to outside communities. As a group which is incarcerated at three times the rate of the general population, LGBTQ people are significantly more likely to be exposed and less likely to receive timely adequate healthcare treatment (The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2021). This population experiences high rates of HIV infection, leading to an increased susceptibility to COVID infection on the basis of a compromised immune system. Many LGBTQ people also experience discrimination in healthcare, including being denied care, suffering microagressions from healthcare staff, and facing stigma on the basis of their identity (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021).
To successfully address the issue of COVID-19 disparities among incarcerated LGBTQ people, it is essential to provide ongoing cultural competency training. By educating providers about the unique needs and identities of this population, it will reduce discrimination in healthcare and build trust between LGBTQ patients and providers.