Abstract:
Since the early 1980s, there has been increasing recognition that the health of individuals and
communities is affected by social disadvantage. Following the election of the New Labour
Government in 1997, social exclusion became a key concept in UK policymaking. Social
exclusion approaches consider health outcomes to be linked to living and working conditions
rather than, primarily, to healthcare interventions. Social exclusion is thus an important concept
for nursing scholarship for understanding how people’s life circumstances may have an impact on
their health. This paper analyses some of the theoretical underpinnings which may lead to
recognition of the concept of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) social exclusion. The
paper goes on to propose a model of the multidimensional aspects of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
trans social exclusion drawing on research evidence of the social, political and global inequalities
experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. In conclusion, it considers the implications
for promoting health equity in nursing policy and practice.
