Nurses Advocate with Pride: Honoring LGBTQ+ Voices in Healthcare

Each June, we celebrate Pride Month, a time to honor the resilience, joy, and ongoing struggle for equity within the LGBTQ+ community. At the Montana Nurses Association, we recognize that affirming and inclusive care is not only a professional obligation—it is a human one.

Nurses are often the first point of contact in healthcare settings, and that gives us a powerful opportunity: to create safe, respectful, and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ patients, coworkers, and communities across Montana.

Why Pride Matters in Nursing

LGBTQ+ individuals often face significant health disparities and barriers to care, including:

  • Discrimination or fear of bias in healthcare settings

  • Limited access to affirming mental health support

  • Higher risks of chronic stress and related health conditions

As nurses, we are called to advocate for health equity and dignity for all—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

MNA’s Commitment to Inclusion

MNA continues to support policies, education, and partnerships that:

  • Promote inclusive and non-discriminatory healthcare practices

  • Educate nurses on LGBTQ+ health issues and culturally responsive care

  • Advocate for workplace protections and equity in our own profession

This Pride Month, we encourage all Montana nurses to reflect on how we can build a more inclusive profession—one patient, one colleague, and one policy at a time.

What You Can Do

  • Listen and Learn: Seek out LGBTQ+ stories, especially those from rural or Indigenous communities

  • Speak Up: Address discriminatory language or practices in your workplace

  • Keep Growing: Participate in CE opportunities focused on LGBTQ+ health

Let us continue to lead with compassion, integrity, and the belief that healthcare is a human right—for everyone.

Happy Pride Month from all of us at the Montana Nurses Association!
Together, we REimagine a profession, and a future, rooted in equity and respect.