Almost any queer and trans person will tell you they dislike going to the doctor. To begin with, we have to contend with the myriad barriers to healthcare that exist for just about anyone who isn’t able to pay exorbitant fees for private care. Finding a family doctor, or getting seen at the ER in a timely manner is increasingly hard. 
 

On top of that, LGBTQ2S+ people face additional hurdles when attempting to get the care they need. Sometimes this means that patients can’t find competent providers: the 2019 TransPulse survey—which in part measured access to healthcare for trans and non-binary people in Canada—found, for example, that more than 44 percent of respondents reported have unmet healthcare needs. And in a recent 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan Survey, only 15 percent of respondents reported having access to LGBTQ2S+-specific mental health supports. 
 

Other times, the barriers are more obviously violent. A recent study in the U.S. found that nearly half of trans respondents reported facing mistreatment at the hands of a medical professional. 
 

In light of these difficulties, it’s particularly important that queer and trans people develop the tools to advocate for themselves in a healthcare environment. Here, naturopathic doctor Jessica Nazareth shares her tips for how best to advocate for yourself at your next appointment.