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6
Depending on the situation, it may be better for you to lie
about or deny your sexual interests. Hopefully, as medicine
becomes more aware of these issues, it will filter down
into even the darkest corners of prejudice. Meanwhile,
however, there are many enlightened physicians working
in these settings.
Outside the U.S. If you live outside the U.S., you
probably live under some form of government-managed
health care program. Some of the notes above, and
further on in this book, can help you understand a bit
more about how your health care system works and how
to get the most from it. I cannot go into details about
the health care system in every country; foreign countries
differ greatly in both culture and the way they administer
medical care. If you can find other practitioners of your
lifestyle where you live, it may help to see how they have
solved the problem. You may be able to ascertain what
approaches have either worked or not worked for them. It
may also help to find one or more physicians who practice
in your culture, who may be able to give you insights as to
how to approach your medical system.
The purpose of this long-winded section is to explain
(but not defend) why it sometimes seems that your
physician is rushing through the appointment. It may
also help you understand some of the pressures on your
physician.
With a clearer understanding of the context in which
most people these days receive their health care, let's
move on to finding out more about how sexual minorities
can get the health care they need.