Mexico Advances Health Protocol for LGBTTTIQ+ Population

Mexico’s Commission on Diversity, led by MORENA Deputy Jaime López, convened the third working session to develop a national health protocol that ensures non-discriminatory access to medical services for LGBTTTIQ+  individuals.

The session, part of a broader effort to formalize the “Protocol for Non-Discriminatory Access to Health Services for LGBTTTIQ+ People,” brought together representatives from the Health Ministry, public agencies, community organizations, and activists. Discussions focused on how to address the health needs of diverse sexual and gender identities.

LGBTTTIQ+  individuals are disproportionately affected by a range of serious health issues, including higher rates of suicide, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions, reports Havard Medical School. According to WHO, LGBTTTIQ+  individuals often face shared challenges that affect their health, including limited access to healthcare due to stigma and discrimination.. They are also at risk of human rights violations, such as violence, criminalization, forced medical treatments, and other forms of discrimination.

The commission proposed the inclusion of harm reduction strategies in the protocol to address substance use, rejecting punitive approaches. López says that CENSIDA’s data shows that the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to disproportionately affect LGBTTTIQ+  communities in Mexico. Despite the availability of antiretroviral medications, AIDS-related deaths persist, underscoring the need for a more inclusive and advanced model of care. 

According to the 2023 HIV Epidemiological Surveillance System report from Mexico’s Ministry of Health, a record 17,858 new HIV cases were diagnosed in the country in 2022 ,the highest number ever reported nationally.

Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED), CENSIDA, Hombres XX, and the Coordinating Commission of National Institutes of Health and High-Specialty Hospitals. 

Participants recommended updating the national health protocol and creating formal Mexican Official Standards (NOMs) to ensure effective and consistent implementation. They also stressed the importance of health diagnostics and data collection tools specifically designed to reflect the realities of LGBTTTIQ+ individuals, noting that current indicators are outdated.

The session concluded with a call to ensure psychological services are expanded and adapted to reflect the wide spectrum of sexual and gender identities. Organizers reiterated the need to differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity in healthcare settings and policies.