The ANA has issued a major position statement advocating for LGBTQ+ populations – you can download it here  David Keepnews, the nurse scholar who advised on the development of this statement, observed that it is especially important that the fact that this statement was developed through the ANA Ethics Advisory Board.  This places nursing advocacy for LGBTQ health squarely in the context of the nursing code of ethics.  Here are the specific (and powerful) recommendations of this position statement:

1. ANA supports efforts to defend and protect the human and civil rights of all members of LGBTQ+ populations.
2. ANA advocates for the rights of all members of LGBTQ+ populations to live, work, study, or serve in the armed services without discrimination or negative activities, such as bullying, violence, incivility, harassment, or bias.
3. ANA affirms the need for nurses in all roles and settings to provide culturally congruent, competent, sensitive, safe, inclusive, and ethical care to members of LGBTQ+ populations, as well as to be informed and educated about the provision of culturally competent care.
4. ANA condemns any discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression in access to or provision of health care.
5. ANA advocates for:
   • Patients and families in LGBTQ+ populations to have equal rights for surrogate decisionmaking, visiting privileges, and access to loved ones when undergoing care or when hospitalized.
   • Patient information assessment, forms, and other ways of collecting patient demographics (e.g., electronic health records) that use best practice means of collecting sexual orientation and gender identity patient data so that appropriate clinical and culturally sensitive care is provided and preferred pronouns are used. It is understood that sexual orientation and gender identity patient information should be considered private patient information shared on a need-to-know basis.
   • Policies and legislation that support equal access to high-quality, culturally congruent health care for LGBTQ+ populations.
   • Research and interventions aimed at improving the health, wellness, and needs of LGBTQ+ populations, including collection of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or expression in research studies.
   • Nurse educators that will help fill the void in knowledge by incorporating the issues of the LGBTQ+ populations as part of nursing curriculum.