California has long been a leader in protecting the rights of LGBT individuals, and this is evidenced by the laws that prohibit discrimination and guarantee access to healthcare regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This is further demonstrated by the close alignment of LGBT community centers with the population density of same-sex households, as revealed by a bivariate linear regression that predicts the location of LGBT community health centers based on the number of same-sex households by county. The Los Angeles LGBT Center has been providing services since 1969, and the UCLA RSVP (Voluntary Research Study Project) offers HIV-related research studies. The preference for consolidated services can lead LGBT community health centers to become much more similar, or even be recognized as FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers), in order to provide unified care and attract a larger customer base.
However, the available explanations for the origins of LGBT health services do not sufficiently explain why health, in particular, has been so closely and consistently linked to LGBT activism. Only 14 of the LGBT community health centers are recognized as FQHCs, yet they have a long history in the United States and are likely to remain prominent in the LGBT healthcare landscape for many years to come. For instance, HIV-negative gay and bisexual youth said they preferred to separate sexual health services, which they sought in specific centers for LGBT people, from other general health services, which they sought in general population settings. The Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Los Angeles Children's Hospital offers consultations for families with gender-nonconforming children, the routine use of medications to suppress puberty in peripubertal youth, capacity building and training for community providers and doctors, and a rigorous research program that aims to understand the experience of gender nonconformity from childhood to early adulthood. The LGBTQ Student Rights Project provides links to legal resources that describe the legal and health rights of gay and trans people. These include the right to freedom of expression and assembly; the right to religious freedom; due process of law; equality before the law; and the right to privacy. In conclusion, California has laws that protect LGBT individuals from discrimination and ensure access to healthcare regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
There are numerous resources available in Los Angeles County that provide specialized healthcare services for LGBT individuals. Additionally, there are legal resources available that outline the rights of gay and trans people.
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