Everyone needs health care at some point in their lives. But for a person who is transgender, gender diverse, or part of the LGBTQ+ community (or both), navigating the health care experience can be fraught with challenges because of their outward expression and internal sense of gender. To create safer, more affirming spaces, we asked patients themselves for their guidance.

U of U Health recently received the LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation—but this achievement didn’t happen overnight. Plastic surgeon and Transgender Health Program Director Cori Agarwal, and Program Coordinator Ariel Malan, share the grit, determination and patient collaboration that transformed our health care system.

Jonathan Martinez, photographer and video director for Huntsman Cancer Institute, shares his experience chasing a rainbow and reflects on what it means to be inclusive as a first-generation Brown, gay man.

Varsha Iyer is an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatrist at Utah’s University Neuropsychiatric Institute. Here she shares both individual and institutional advice on dealing with the chronic stress of racism and the acute stress of COVID-19 to lead the way for positive, enduring change.