by Celia Skipton, Vitals contributor

The doctor’s office can be a scary place if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, with many—especially transgender people—experiencing negative or discriminatory treatment from healthcare providers.

Large healthcare organizations, such as Sutter Health, are responding by providing inclusive care focused on the healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and by embedding diversity and inclusion as part of their mission, vision and values.

Beyond the doctor’s office or hospital room, Pride parades and festivals offer a public—and joyful—way for healthcare organizations to show the community that they are a safe and inclusive place to receive care, work and thrive.

Watch a video of Sutter’s employees, physicians and leaders celebrating alongside the LGBTQ+ community at events across Northern California during Pride month in June: