Can We - LGBTQ+ Toolkit for Inclusion in Cancer Trials

How can cancer trials be more inclusive?

It’s essential that LGBTQ+ people are included in clinical trials to ensure research reflects the diversity of the population and to support everyone’s right to quality healthcare. Trials should avoid excluding sexuality and gender diverse participants—whether that’s through explicit criteria or through language that assumes everyone is cisgender or heterosexual. Accurate recording of participants’ sexuality and gender is also key. Without this, trial data may unintentionally reinforce biases and limit how well findings apply to LGBTQ+ communities.

We know from research that LGBTQ+ people can have different experiences with cancer compared to cisgender, heterosexual patients. This is particularly true for trans and gender diverse individuals, who may face barriers such as being excluded due to gender-affirming hormone therapy or because trial language doesn’t acknowledge their identities—especially in studies related to reproductive or genital cancers.