Press release #2: Awareness videos are raising the question on inclusive LGBTI health care in the EU

Sofia, 07.02.2022

The Open Doors project run by universities and NGOs from five countries is delivering another valuable insight into the quest for more inclusive health care services. Two videos, one targeted at health care professionals and another at the LGBTI community, are raising awareness on the discrimination and prejudice queer people still face in the health care system in Europe.

Even though the World Health Organization no longer categorizes being homosexual or transgender as a “mental disorder” there is a large number of medical professionals who do not have the knowledge to communicate with people from the LGBTI community in a right manner, using stigmatizing language or incorrect pronouns.

The project’s videos are pointing out this could seriously damage the communication between doctor and patient. This experience is also contributing to poorer health status for LGBTI.

The animated videos are a catchy way to open a discussion about those issues. They were directed by the Bulgarians Vessela Dantcheva, running the Compote Collective studio, with illustration and animation led by Iva Tokmakchieva and Sofia Stoyanova.

The videos are presented in English, as well as the five local languages of the project partners – Bulgarian, Polish, Catalan, Hungarian and Italian and are available on the social media channels and YouTube of the organizations.

Previously presented by the project was a comparative report outlining the main findings of the Open Doors research and providing insights into the understanding, attitudes, experience and training needs of health professionals. The results in the report, produced in 2020, revealed that health professionals have low awareness of LGBTI issues and declare a need for appropriate training.

Health care personnel seeking for more information could make use of the short guide, summarizing the most important information on LGBTI health. The guide, available in different languages online at https://opendoorshealth.eu/en/outputs, includes an introduction to LGBTI terminology, a summary of the health needs of LGBTI people, and practical recommendations to avoid discrimination and create inclusive clinical spaces.

The Open Doors: Promoting Inclusive and Competent Health Care for LGBTI People project is co-funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The participating organizations are Háttér, Bilitis and GLAS foundation, Università Degli Studi di Brescia (UNIBS), Universitat de Girona (UdG), Surt, Fundacio De Dones Fundacio Privada (SURT) and Lambda Warsaw.