OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview of health care needs and related sexuality issues of lesbian and gay patients. DATA SOURCES: Research articles, books, clinical experience. CONCLUSION: Attitudes of health professionals as well as patients impact care in rela- tion to sexuality and sexual issues. Oncology nurses using a framework of awareness, sensitivity, and knowl- edge can obtain and apply the essen- tial information needed to provide culturally appropriate nursing care to this population. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Lesbian and gay patients need nurses as allies in their fight with cancer. This is particularly true in assessment and managing concerns about sexuality and sexual issues. KEYWORDS: Gay, lesbian, sexuality, cancer Suzanne Dibble, DNSc, RN: Professor Emerita, Institute for Health & Aging, School of Nursing, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Michele J. Eliason, PhD: Assistant Professor, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA. Jeanne F. DeJoseph, PhD, CNM: Profes- sor Emerita, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Peggy Chinn, RN, PhD, FAAN: Professor Emerita, Univer- sity of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. Address correspondence to Suzanne Dib- ble, DNSc, RN, Institute for Health & Aging, School of Nursing, 3333 California St., Suite 340, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118; e-mail: sue. dibble@ucsf.edu or sue.dibble@gmail.com Ó 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 0749-2081/08/2402-$30.00/0 doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2008.02.006 SEXUAL ISSUES IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS: LESBIAN AND GAY INDIVIDUALS SUZANNE DIBBLE,MICHELE J. ELIASON, JEANNE F. DEJOSEPH, AND PEGGY CHINN I N EVERY oncology practice throughout the United States, nurses are caring for lesbian and gay (LG) patients. The focus of this article is to support the health of LG individuals and related sexuality issues in the environments of undergoing treat- ments, having follow-up care, living with, or preparing for death from cancer. Challenges on most sexual issues faced by LG patients with cancer are presented in the articles ‘‘Alterations in Sexual Function in Men’’ and ‘‘Alterations in Sexual Function in Women’’ elsewhere in this issue. However, these challenges are compounded by the attitudes of health professionals toward LG individuals and the fear of LG individuals to disclose their sexual orientation. Thus, this article addresses both attitudes of health professionals as well as specific information on sexuality issues. Oncology nurses caring for LG patients may know the sexual orientation or gender identity of their patients; but often they may not. Learning how to obtain in- formation and how to use it is the focus of this article. The Aware- ness, Sensitivity, and Knowledge (ASK) framework can be used to obtain and apply the essential information needed to provide cul- turally appropriate nursing care. 1 We must be aware of our own be- liefs and biases about LG people; we need sensitivity in our approach to care; and knowledge to inform our practice. This spe- cial framework is necessary especially because heterosexism, de- fined as the belief that heterosexuality is the only ‘‘normal’’ option for relationships, is deeply engrained and taken for granted even by some LG patients. 2 Because of heterosexism, the lives of those who do not share a heterosexual orientation may be difficult, particularly when they are ill. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, Vol 24, No 2 (May), 2008: pp 127-130 127