COVID's Impact on Queer Disabled & Chronically Ill Communities 

Originally published in the St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline’s July 2022 Newsletter

COVID-19 has undeniably impacted the entire world mentally, physically, and emotionally. Those impacts become even more pronounced when you occupy intersecting marginalized identities. An intersection that felt important to explore is the chronically ill and disabled LGBTQIA+ community. Getting COVID-19 continues to be a risk that chronically ill and disabled people cannot afford. As a queer, chronically ill human myself, I’ve felt the impacts of prolonged isolation, the fear of going to necessary doctor’s appointments, and the weight of the world moving on.

At the start of the pandemic, I was diagnosed with an autoinflammatory disease and prescribed medication that suppressed my immune system. I entered the pandemic with severe asthma and was already fearful of the impact that contracting the virus could have on my lungs. When the symptoms of my autoinflammatory disorder began, I almost didn’t go to the doctor because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 in a healthcare setting. If I had avoided going to the ER, I was told my heart would have stopped due to inflammation.

I’m not alone in this fear. In fact, in an anonymous survey we conducted among LGBTQIA+ chronically ill and disabled folks, many expressed similar worries. One participant said, “I have avoided going to the doctor for the entirety of the pandemic out of fear for my life. I’m overdue for basic annual exams and teeth cleanings and I did not go to the ER after twisting my knee, which took 6+ months to heal on its own.”

Not only is going to the doctor stressful during a pandemic for chronically ill people, but the intersection of an LGBTQIA+ identity can often add its own stress. Medical providers are often not informed on LGBTQIA+ issues such as gender-transitions or respecting pronouns, which can leave queer folks feeling invalidated and misunderstood. SQSH’s 2019 Needs Assessment found that, “nationally, 28% of transgender people experience verbal harassment in a medical setting, and 50% encounter providers that lacked knowledge of some aspect of their health needs (Grant, Mottet, Tanis, & Min, 2010).”

While telehealth doesn’t make these issues disappear, it may offer some opportunities to receive care in less emotionally draining ways. One survey participant shared, “I live in a small town, and having medical offices implement telehealth for both doctor visits and therapy has been life-changing. I can actually get help without risking my health or using up all my energy leaving the house.”

However, telehealth is not accessible to everyone. According to the FCC, 6 percent of the population still lacks access to reliable internet. In rural areas, nearly one-fourth of the population lacks access; in tribal areas, nearly one-third of the population goes without the Internet. This means that queer, chronically ill, and disabled folks living in these areas must still risk in-person doctor visits. If they lack access to transportation, riding public transit further exposes them to COVID-19. One survey participant noted, “I use public transit [in Chicago] to get to appointments, and I avoided some appointments because transit made me nervous.”

Due to my chronic illness diagnosis, I was required to go to the doctor more frequently but also experienced cancellations, delays, and limited care. As we saw early in the pandemic, healthcare workers are overworked and understaffed. Burnout across providers often resulted in long wait times, lower quality of care, and limited access to specialist care. One survey participant who lived in a rural area expressed that with already limited providers, finding an LGBTQIA-affirming provider for their autoimmune disease was almost impossible. Another participant shared that their wait for top surgery increased by 6 months and kept getting rescheduled due to COVID diagnoses causing staff shortages.

Ultimately, the pandemic creates extra obstacles for chronically ill, disabled, and queer communities to be healthy and well. Next month, in Part Two of our “COVID’s Impact” series, I’ll explore the specific mental health and financial struggles that LGBTQIA+ chronically ill/disabled communities grapple with. Until then, here are some resources I want to share for those looking for care during this time:

Casa de Salud
The mission of Casa de Salud is to facilitate and deliver high-quality medical and mental health services for uninsured and underinsured patients, focusing on new immigrants and refugees who face barriers to accessing other sources of care.

Tent Mission STL
A team of volunteers helping to provide temporary, emergency tent sheltering, guidance, and necessary supplies for the unhoused in St. Louis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STL Mutual Aid
STL Mutual Aid is a network of organizers, healers, artists, community leaders, and every day people coming together to deliver food and supplies, provide financial solidarity, offer emotional support, and connect people to their neighbors.

Queer & Trans-Friendly Care in St. Louis
A spreadsheet listing queer and trans friendly healthcare providers in St. Louis, compiled by community members. This resource list includes several forms of healthcare providers including primary, mental health, therapy, top surgery, gynecological, dentistry, and others! Although still in the works, this source is a solid starting point for those seeking LGBTQIA-affirming care.