Understanding the Well-Being of the LGBTQI Population: Laws and Legal Issues
Course Description: This course is based upon material published by the National Academies of Sciences website and is available as an open-access article.
Law can enhance or impede people’s economic security, physical safety, and capacity to participate in almost all dimensions of life; for these reasons, it is an important social determinant of health and well-being (Burris et al., 2010). For many years, the legal system functioned largely in ways that undermined the health and well-being of sexual and gender diverse (SGD) populations. Criminal laws were used to harass, imprison, and ruin the lives of those who were considered sexual or gender deviants. Immigration laws forbade them from entering the country. They were subject to being fired from their jobs, evicted from their homes, and less than honorably discharged from military service without legal redress. Their family relationships were not recognized as legitimate, much less protected from interference. SGD people were forced to live in a world of ubiquitous state-enforced hostility. The legal landscape has now changed dramatically, even if not completely.
In an extraordinarily successful example of the American civil rights narrative, LGBT rights advocates have secured protection from most of the past forms of negative treatment. However, as one can see from the examples of women and people of color, the achievement of broad formal equality under law does not automatically stop the kinds of mistreatment that can diminish a person’s capacity for well-being. For SGD people, legal equality is still new and somewhat precarious. Many U.S. institutions and individuals continue to undermine new norms of fairness. Enforcement of legal protections can be uneven. In addition, the policies and practices that continue to harm SGD people have a disproportionate effect on those within the community who also face income insecurity, racial bias, and transphobia. A transgender Latinx woman or a Black lesbian couple raising children have to contend with additional marginalization that results from intersecting axes of disadvantage and stigma. As a result, they face radically different life circumstances than cisgender white people. This [course] summarizes the changes that have occurred in recent years, describes continuing challenges posed by the legal system to the well-being of SGD people, and provides basic legal information related to the particular domains of life that are analyzed in greater detail throughout this book. The chapter concludes with a description of what is likely to be an increasingly important question: the extent to which businesses and individuals can secure an exemption from anti-discrimination laws on the basis of their religious beliefs. Because the current legal changes in this field has been substantial and rapid, the reader should keep in mind that this summary can offer only a snapshot of the legal status of SGD populations as this report goes to press.
This course on laws and legal issues in the LGBTQ population is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. In addition, this course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced-level practitioners who wish to develop their knowledge of legal issues and laws related to the LGBTQ population. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal.
The course is based on an academic publication that includes research. It contains that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field.
Authors: National Academies of Sciences
Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding laws and legal issues related to the LGBTQ population. Specifically, a professional will:
- Identify the recent changes in laws related to members of the LGBTQ community.
- Describe the stigmas and marginalization that members of the LGBTQ community frequently experience.
- Identify areas in which LGBTQ people may still struggle with legal discrimination.
Citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2020. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations. Chapter 5 Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
***Please note that numerous states have recently placed restrictions or bans on gender-affirming care for minors. Licensed professionals are required to follow the laws and rules of their state. Click here for a map of states with restrictions or bans. If you have questions about the laws or rules in your state, contact us for assistance.***
This course content is based on a publication that has been peer-reviewed, the scientific standard for evaluating academic work. All studies and scientifically derived evidence have limitations that should be considered. If you have any questions about the accuracy or limitations of the content, please contact us at
support@ce-classes.com and we will get back to you.
This Ce-Classes.com course is approved for CE credit by:
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- The American Psychological Association (APA) Ce-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Ce-Classes.com, Provider #1142, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Ce-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval Period: 1/5/2029
Social workers participating in this course will receive 2 Clinical continuing education clock hours.- The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Ce-Classes.com has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6320. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Ce-Classes.com is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.
- California Board of Registered Nursing. CEP 15647 Expires 11/30/2026.
- California Association of DUI Treatment Programs (CADTP) Provider Number 231
- California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-174-0627 Expires 6-2027
- Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Expires 3/31/2027
- Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #: 50-4896) Expires 10/31/2028 Do not send certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing. You must keep this certificate for 4 years.
- Florida Certification Board
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA) Provider number# 16-04-05-626
- Illinois – CE-Classes.com is a registered social work CE sponsor by the State of Illinois. License 159.001607 Expires 11/30/2027
- Massachusetts Authorization Number: 2775%2Funderstanding-the-well-being-of-the-lgbtqi-population-laws-and-legal-issues
- New York Mental Health Practitioners Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0260.
- New York Psychology Board CE-Classes.com, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0211
- New York Social Work Board – Ce-Classes.com is recognized by the New York State Education
Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of
continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0120.
- Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board – Approval from a state licensing board for counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists is accepted by the OH CSWMFTB.
- Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (LPCs, LMFTs and LBCs)
- South Carolina – CE-Classes.com is approved by the S.C. Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapist, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#4696).
- Texas Board of Marriage & Family Therapists CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Professional Counselors – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
- Texas Board of Social Work Examiners – CE-Classes.com meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education. Effective 1/1/24, at least half of the 30 hours must be obtained from a provider listed in 801.261(f). This course meets that requirement.
