If you have a choice and it is safe to come out, here are some reasons you might share who you are with your health providers:

• to access the right options for you (for example, accessing affirming surgery options such as masculinising mastectomy or preserving sexual function based on how you have sex)

• to ensure your test results are interpreted right (some pathology tests are affected by sex steroids [1])

• to access community-specific support such as doctors who specialise in LGBTQ+ cancer care, a social worker from community, peer support or something else

• to have your health provider(s) advocate for you

• to be seen for who you are and have the people who matter to you spoken about in a way that works for you and them

If you aren't out to the people supporting you through your treatment it might be important to tell your health providers this so they don't unintentionally out you in front of others.

Many health services ask for information about sexual orientation, sex assigned at birth and gender. Some services may ask questions about marital status and sexual activity.

Sometimes the information is used for clinical care and other times it’s collected for funding, policy or research. 

You don’t have to provide information you’re not comfortable with and you can ask questions about how your data is used, stored and shared. 

You might think about: 

• Is disclosing my gender and/or sexual identity relevant to my care? 

• What could happen if I don’t share my gender and/or sexual identity? 

• Am I out to the people supporting me through treatment (for example, family, friends) 

• Do I feel safe disclosing who I am? 

Assessing safety. A health service with rainbow stickers, posters, flags and lanyards doesn’t always equal safety. So, you might ask health providers: 

• How will information about my gender and/or sexual identity be used? 

• How is information about my gender and/or sexual identity kept confidential? 

• What will you do to contribute to my sense of safety? 

Resourcing yourself. Coming out can be nerve-wracking and bring back past trauma, especially if you don’t know how the health provider will respond. Here are some things that might help: 

• Having someone with you, if you can 

• Writing a letter to be shared with health providers

• Asking for support from a health provider you trust (e.g. a cancer nurse, social worker)

Under the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights [1] everyone has the right to: 

• Access 

• Safety 

• Respect 

• Partnership 

• Information 

• Privacy and confidentiality 

• Give feedback 

Under the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984, it is against the law for health professionals, hospitals and treatment centres to discriminate against our communities because of sexual orientation, gender or intersex status. Discrimination against same-sex couples is also unlawful. While legislation across Australia varies, in NSW, under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 it is against the law for health professionals, hospitals and treatment centres to discriminate against LGBT people. 

As the Cancer Council note, examples of unlawful discrimination in the health care setting include:

• refusing to provide you with care because you are LGBTQI+

• providing you with a lesser standard of care because of your sexual orientation, gender or sex characteristics

• making offensive comments, jokes or negative remarks about LGBTQI+ people

• not acknowledging your same-sex partner/s as next of kin

• using incorrect names and pronouns on purpose.

Whether you are out or not. Your team should treat all information about you confidentially. They may only share information with other healthcare professionals when it is needed for your care. They should not share your sexual orientation or you being trans without your permission.

Read more in your rights