Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States: An Introduction

This chapter places health disparities affecting gay and bisexual men within the context of health disparities experienced by other socially marginalized groups in the United States. It defines the population of gay and bisexual men and examines key differences between these men and other socially marginalized groups, including the basis of minority status, intergenerational influences, acquisition of minority status later in life, selective disclosure of minority status, and historical differences. The chapter describes key factors affecting health disparities among gay and bisexual men including socioeconomic status, prejudice and discrimination, laws and policies affecting health, health behavior, and access to health care, and individual behavior and cultural norms in the gay community. The chapter ends by briefly discussing public health efforts to address health disparities.