Reproductive Health Is LGBTQ+ Health

Attacks on abortion access and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights aren’t just happening at the same time, they’re part of the same coordinated effort to control our bodies, our choices, and our futures. Whether it’s a state banning gender-affirming care or restricting abortion after six weeks, the goal is the same: to take power away from individuals by taking away their ability to make their own choices. The consequences are dire and deeply interconnected.

For LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are transgender, nonbinary, or a person of color, these overlapping threats have created a health care landscape that is increasingly hostile, inaccessible, and unsafe. And the erosion of reproductive rights doesn’t just impact those seeking abortions—it disrupts the entire spectrum of health care.

A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) confirms what advocates have long known: abortion bans are compounding health disparities for LGBTQ+ people. The report, which surveyed over 3,300 people across the country, found that:

• LGBTQ+ people are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ people to struggle to find a new provider if their clinic shuts down. Over one-third of transgender respondents said it would be “very difficult” or “not possible” to find another provider at all.
• 5% of LGBTQ+ adults, and a striking 7% of disabled LGBTQ+ adults, reported being unable to access abortion care, compared to just 1% of non-LGBTQ+ people.
• Black LGBTQ+ people are the group most likely to have to travel out of state for abortion or reproductive health services.

These numbers tell a clear story: abortion providers were more than places for abortion care—they were also safe, affirming spaces that provided gender-affirming care, STI testing, cancer screenings, and basic reproductive health services. When clinics close, the care LGBTQ+ communities rely on disappears with them.

And many LGBTQ+ people are already navigating health care systems where they feel unsafe or unwelcome. CAP’s past research showed that nearly 1 in 3 transgender patients had a provider outright refuse to see them, and 29% reported experiencing unwanted physical contact from a health care professional. Those experiences are not isolated—they’re symptoms of a medical system that often fails to affirm and respect LGBTQ+ patients.

That fear and distrust have real consequences. LGBTQ+ people are less likely to seek medical care at all, not just for gender-affirming services, but even urgent needs such as treating a broken bone or getting a cancer screening. Often because they can’t find a provider who will treat them with dignity, or they simply can’t afford it. These aren't just barriers, they're warning signs of broader efforts to erode bodily autonomy. This ongoing erosion of access and autonomy makes it clear: health care systems and policies must be reimagined with the needs of LGBTQ+ communities at the center—not as an afterthought.

All of this is just one reason why Power to Decide is working in several ways to support queer folks’ access to reproductive and sexual health care that is respectful and responsive. We are evaluating SafeSpace, an app designed for LGBTQ+, Black, and Latine youth, which shares authentic youth stories to provide resources on sexual, mental, and emotional health. Our team has also published strategies for creating an LGBTQIA+-inclusive evaluation of adolescent sexual health programs. Plus, we participate in initiatives such as Sex Ed for All, which empowers young people—particularly queer youth, youth of color, and others historically pushed to the margins—with the knowledge, agency, and access they need to protect their health and define their own futures.

Reproductive health is not just about abortion. It’s about who is trusted to make decisions for themselves. It’s about who has access to the care they need. And it’s about whether we build a future where everyone’s body, identity, and choices are respected.

During Pride Month this year, we’re not just celebrating identity—we’re fighting for autonomy. Because reproductive health and LGBTQ+ health are intertwined.