This spring a bill to improve health research for individuals of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community was passed in the state of Washington. This law requires the National Institutes of Health to address the lack of minority patient populations in clinical trials in the state of Washington. Will it help to promote a more inclusive health-research environment?
We definitely hope so! Currently, less than two percent of trials funded by the National Cancer Institute include enough participants from minorities. This means that the researched treatment is not matching LGBT needs as wells as needs of other minorities.