Sexual and gender minority health and the COVID-19 pandemic

Liadh Timmins, Kevalyn Bharadwaj, Krish J. Bhatt, Dustin T. Duncan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter discusses how sexual and gender minorities (SGM) may be at increased risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality. To illustrate, cisgender gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men (SMM) may be especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. An underlying condition, such as AIDS, may put an individual at higher risk for disease, for example, COVID-19. Moreover, when efforts to control COVID-19 require social distancing, this may lead to diminished social support, which could increase HIV incidence, given that social network support has been found to be a protective factor against HIV infection. Further, COVID-19 may be of particular concern for those who smoke tobacco or marijuana and use other substances such as alcohol, for which SMM may be at high risk. Smoking behaviors may heighten biological vulnerability to COVID-19, while alcohol and other substance use may lead to disinhibition and sexual risk that heighten behavioral vulnerability to COVID-19. Increased sexual practices (e.g., sex with multiple casual partners) indeed will not only increase rates of HIV infection (already disproportionately high in SMM) but also COVID-19 infection. The chapter briefly discusses how gay men are prohibited from donating blood plasma to COVID-19 research. Intersectionality theory is discussed, including highlighting particular SGM populations that might be at high risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality such as cisgender black SMM and transgender women of color.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationThe Social Epidemiology of the COVID-19 Pandemic
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages178-207
Number of pages30
ISBN (Electronic)9780197625255
ISBN (Print)9780197625217
DOIs
StatePublished - May 23 2024

Keywords

  • Cisgender
  • COVID-19
  • Discrimination
  • Gender minorities
  • HIV/AIDS activism
  • Sexual minorities
  • Sexual minority men
  • Transgender women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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