Gender Identities and Orientations: Demographic Change and the Health Effects They Experience

Abstract

Introduction:

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) refers to a diverse group of people who have different sexual orientations and gender identities. In population structure, LGBT individuals are considered a minority group because they represent a smaller percentage of the population, estimated at between 2% and 10% in the world, compared to heterosexual individuals. Our objective in this paper is to highlight the demographic shifts associated with the increasing visibility and recognition of the LGBT community, while also examining the broader implications of these shifts on public health outcomes.

Methods:

This brief communication review was based on a literature search conducted from four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. All articles published from 2012 to 2024 were accounted for by using keywords such as “LGBT”, “gay”, “transgender”, “bisexual” “population changes”, “population dynamic”, “population shift”, “demographic shift”, “demographic changes”.

Results:

The extracted evidence from the literature was then formulated into 2 main focus areas: Population Dynamics Implications and Public Health Impact.

Conclusions:

The health disparities faced by the LGBT community stem from stigma and discrimination, impacting their overall well-being. As the LGBT population grows, it will affect population dynamics by reducing growth rates, increasing migration to more inclusive countries, and raising mortality rates from related diseases. Addressing these challenges requires improved access to healthcare, including HIV and cancer screenings, gender-affirming therapy, and PrEP.