LGBTQ+ Resources

Michigan Medicine focuses on patient and family centered care for our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) guests. Members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to face a variety of health care disparities. Together, we can all make our health system an inclusive space of healing for all patients and families.

The Advisory Committee for the Advancement of LGBTQ Health at Michigan Medicine (ACALHM) aims to create enduring and affirming spaces to promote the health and well-being of patients, families, learners, staff, faculty, and visitors of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions at Michigan Medicine. In pursuit of this aim, the role of ACALHM is to:

1) gather key information about the structures, policies, barriers and facilitators to promoting LGBTQ health at Michigan Medicine; and

2) provide input and make recommendations to help guide institutional efforts at Michigan Medicine.

Click here to see members of the advisory committee

Environment and programs of care

Creating an inclusive environment

Michigan Medicine patients have the right to receive respectful and considerate treatment, involvement in making decisions about your care, privacy of your health information, and designating the individuals who can visit you or be involved in your care. We welcome our patients and families regardless of knowledge, values, beliefs, or cultural backgrounds, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Please refer to the links below for additional information.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Family presence and visitation policy
Patient non-discrimination policy and access plan (for patients and families & includes information for filing a complaint)
Patient Non-discrimination Policy and Access Plan (for employees)

Care programs

Michigan Medicine offers a variety of services and programs for health issues affecting the LBGTQ+ community.

Child and Adolescent Gender Services – Serves child and adolescent transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary patients.
Comprehensive Gender Services Program - Serves adult transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary patients.
HIV/AIDS Treatment Program – Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at higher risk of certain health concerns, amongst them HIV/AIDS. This program provides comprehensive care for the whole person using a multi-focused team approach addressing medical and psychological needs.

The University of Michigan also offers a variety of resources available to students and staff.

Spectrum Center
University Health Service (LGBTQ care)

Support groups

Michigan Medicine offers a variety of support groups for topics affecting the LGBTQ community.

Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Adult Support Group
Parents of Gender Nonconforming People
HIV/AIDS Support Group - The group is open to HIV+ MSM individuals. It meets the 3^rd Monday of each month from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. For more information, contact Amy Jacobs, LMSW, at [email protected] or via phone at (734)763-9227.

Faculty and staff engagement

LGBTQ+ Resource Group - For more information, please email [email protected]

Education and resources

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI)

The Human Rights Campaign is the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. They issue the Healthcare Equality Index as a report used to evaluate participating healthcare organizations. A score out of 100 is issued based on the following framework:

Non-discrimination and staff training
Patient services and support
Employee benefits and policies
Patient and community programs

Michigan Medicine earned a score of 90 on the 2019 HEI, receiving a "Top Performer" designation.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Center for Affiliated Learning (CAL)

Free webinars and workshops are available with Michigan Medicine’s participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equity Index. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in free trainings designed to help increase knowledge for LGBTQ+ health.

A variety of education credits are available. For instructions on accessing, please visit this guide.

Caring for Transgender or Gender Nonconforming Patients

The video is sponsored by the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion and was produced through a diversity, equity and inclusion mini-grant received in 2017. The videos were produced by Halley Crissman M.D., and OB/GYN Fellow at Michigan Medicine. The video aims to create job-specific training to improve the comfort and competency of frontline staff at Michigan Medicine in caring for transgender patients and visitors.

Video links below will direct you to M Learning.

Introduction only
Call Center video (includes introduction)
Security/Guest Service Specialist video (includes introduction)
Provider video (includes introduction)
RN/MA/tech video (includes introduction)
Clerks/Registration video (includes introduction

Transgender Health Curriculum

These modules were developed and produced by Daphna Stroumsa, MD, MPH, in collaboration with physicians and activists across the country and with the support of Michigan Medicine and the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG). Dr. Stroumsa is a fellow in the National Clinician Scholars Program and in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan.

To access, please visit: https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/obgyn/education/clinical-education

Job tools

Transgender-Affirming Language and Care – This guide provides terminology, guidance on terminology, and relevant MiChart instructions.

National resources

GLMA (Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality) – References for health providers on engaging with sexual and gender diverse individuals.
The National LGBT Health Education Center (The Fenway Institute) – Provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations for LGBTQ+ people.

Patient Stories

Please see the compelling stories from our LGBTQ+ patient advisors

Crow Demortier

Monica Lewis

June 19, 2019

LGBTQ+ Pride Month - Diversity Matters

May 27, 2020