Comparing definitions of allyship between healthcare providers and the trans community

Abstract

Trans people historically and currently face many barriers when accessing healthcare, including providers lacking knowledge of healthcare needs, denying transgender people healthcare, and refusing to provide appropriate services (Giblon & Bauer, 2017). It is then important for service providers to practice “allyship” with their transgender patients to improve healthcare experiences and health outcomes. The purpose of this report is to understand how providers define allyship with their transgender patients in the context of healthcare and compare their definitions to how transgender patients define allyship in healthcare, to identify gaps and opportunities for further learning.