Advancing Equitable Healthcare Access for Sexual and Gender Minorities and Beyond

Dear Colleagues,

Ensuring equitable healthcare access for sexual and gender minorities is a fundamental component of high-quality, person-centered care. Despite growing attention on inclusion and cultural safety, many individuals continue to encounter barriers such as limited provider training, discriminatory practices, and uneven policy protections. These gaps contribute to preventable health disparities and reinforce the need for stronger, evidence-based approaches that promote dignity, safety, and fairness in every care setting. As global efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion gain momentum, nurses and other health professionals are uniquely positioned to lead change through clinical practice, education, advocacy, and community engagement.

This call invites authors to share scholarship that deepens understanding and sparks action toward more equitable care for sexual and gender minorities and other marginalized groups. Submissions may examine educational innovations, clinical practices, community-driven initiatives, policy developments, technological solutions, or international perspectives. We especially welcome work that explores intersectional experiences, addresses structural challenges, or offers practical, scalable strategies for improving access and quality of care. Through this Special Issue, we aim to elevate a wide range of voices, strengthen the evidence base, and encourage meaningful dialogue that advances just and inclusive healthcare for all.

Prof. Dr. Judith B. Cornelius
Prof. Dr. Charlene Downing
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.