We’re Here for You! LGBTQ+ Resources from NIH, NLM, and NNLM

Posted by Jacqueline Leskovec on June 12th, 2024 Posted in: Blog, NLM Resources
Tags: LGBTQ+, lgbtq+ health

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is coordinated by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in Bethesda, MD. Over 8,000 NNLM members promote and provide access to health information in communities across the United States. NLM is one of the twenty-seven National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. (NIH: What We Do)

To this end, below are just some of the resources regarding LGBTQ+ health provided by NIH via its institutes, centers, and offices.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

All of Us Research Program
“All LGBTQIA+ Americans deserve to be seen, heard, and understood — especially when it comes to medical research. Understanding how lifestyle, genetics, and environment affect the health of the queer community is what inspires our research. Joining the All of Us Research Program is your chance to help speed up medical research that will benefit you and your community.”

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Resources for Sexual & Gender Minorities
Resources include Federal Reports, Federal Surveys, Non-Federal Surveys, and Other Relevant Resources, such as the SGM Fact Sheet and How Sex and Gender Influence Health & Disease.

Office of Research on Women’s Health: Sex & Gender
Follow the Office of Research on Women’s Health to understand how sex and gender affect human health and disease.

Pride at NIH 2024
The National Institutes of Health recognizes June as LGBTQI+ Pride Month and reaffirms its commitment to uplifting and celebrating the lived experiences of their LGBTQI+ employees and people everywhere! Follow for a list of events taking place during Pride Month this year.

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

MedlinePlus: LGBTQIA+ Health
On this page you’ll find information about health issues that are specific to the LGBTQIA+ community provided by MedlinePlus, “an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends”.

PubMed MeSH Term: Sexual and Gender Minorities
MeSH or Medical Subject Headings are terms used to assist with subject searching. “Sexual and Gender Minorities” is just one of the terms related to the health of LGBTQIA+ persons. Below is the Scope Note for this term, introduced in 2018.

Individuals including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, gender non-conforming people, and other populations whose sexual orientation or GENDER IDENTITY and reproductive development is considered outside cultural, societal, or physiological norms.

The controlled vocabulary that is MeSH reflects changes that occur in the biomedical literature, including those terms relating to LGBTQIA+ health. See related terms, such as GENDER IDENTITY.

Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)

Reading Club: LGBTQIA+ Health
The NNLM Reading Club has selected books to help share information about sexual- and gender-affirming health care. Follow along for more information about LGBTQIA+ health.

Beyond the Binary: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Health
This class aims to provide culturally appropriate health information and resources for LGBTQIA+ populations and the librarians and health care practitioners who support them. New Moodle class starts 12 June 2024!

ABOUT Jacqueline Leskovec
Jacqueline Leskovec, MLIS, MA, RN (she/her) is the Network Specialist for NNLM Region 6. She is the lead for the Partner Outreach Program (POP), Network membership and user accounts, the Data Reporting System (DRS), and the Region 6 website. She has been with the Network since 2005. In addition to being a health sciences librarian, Jacqueline maintains her license as a registered nurse. She works from her home office in Chicago. She is well acquainted with power tools and will be happy to bore you with details of her many home repair and remodel adventures.

Email author View all posts by Jacqueline Leskovec