Health care disparities in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communityIt matters to identify at-risk populations who suffer from health care disparities in order to reduce these disparities. Health care disparities can have negative health consequences when at-risk populations do not receive appropriate health care. According to Ranji, Beamesderfer, Kates, and Salganicoff (2014), health issues and risk factors affecting the LGBT community include HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), substance abuse, mental health issues, and sexual and physical violence. The LGBT community is an at-risk population due to healthcare barriers related to discrimination, bias, social stigma, and lack of access to health insurance, particularly for same-sex couples . (Healthypeople.gov 2013). It is important to identify community resources in the City of Houston for LGBT people to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these people. In an effort to promote the health of LGBT individuals, a health and wellness plan should be targeted within the LGBT community in the City of Houston. Risk Factors Causing Health Disparities in the LGBT CommunityHIV/AIDS is a major risk factor affecting a large portion of the population. the LGBT community, particularly gay men. CDC.gov (2013) found that gay and bisexual men of all races continue to be at high risk of developing HIV. According to Krehely (2009), the risk factor for substance abuse and substance abuse, as well as mental health issues within the LGBT community, often occur and are linked to high rates of stress due to lack of family acceptance from the LGBT lifestyle, to systematic discrimination and lack of cultural competence in the health care environment. Sexu...... middle of document ......ed from http://kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/health-and-access-to-care-and-coverage-for- lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2012). National Health Care Disparities Report 2012 (13-0003). Retrieved from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website: http://ahrq.gov-research-findings-nhqrdr-nhdr12-2012nhdr.pdfU.S. Department of Health and Social Services (2013). HIV and AIDS among gay and bisexual men. Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/CDC-MSM-508.pdfU.S. Department of Health and Social Services (2013). Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health. Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25U.S. Department of Health and Social Services (2013). What is cultural cooperation