Communicating About Gender Identity

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people do not always feel comfortable disclosing their gender identity information or transgender status in medical contexts, often due to fear of discrimination and lack of knowledgeable providers. Maintaining confidentiality is an important aspect of quality care for all. Unfortunately, due to state and other local policies, TGD people seeking and receiving gender-affirming care face confidentiality concerns such as disclosure of names and pronouns to people who may put them at risk of physical or emotional harm. Providers should always ask TGD people for consent to share and document their TGD identity or status (e.g., in electronic medical records [EMR]), and should ask about context-specific name and pronoun use.