Everyone has a sexual orientation and a gender identity; how society responds to our identities affects our health. Carl Streed Jr. MD, MPH, is a physician by training and advocate in action focused on improving the status, health, and well-being of vulnerable communities. For over a decade, he has been dedicated to understanding and eliminating disparities among sexual and gender minorities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. He uses a decidedly health-focused perspective with emphasis placed on the intersection of identities. He has approached the issues facing LGBTQ individuals and communities through education reform, professional development, and systems redesign.

With his experience advocating for institutional, state, and national level change, he has advised as a consultant the creation of new LGBTQ-focused symposia and resources for healthcare systems, non-profit organizations, and federal agencies. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx