LGBTQIA+ Support for IBD: A Pride Month Spotlight

Celebrate Pride Month by discovering supportive spaces and resources for LGBTQIA+ people living with IBD. 

Let’s Go There: Supporting the LGBTQIA+ IBD Community

Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in his early 20s, AJ remembers feeling isolated in navigating the symptoms of his inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). He turned to peer support groups offered by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation to process his journey.

The experience was so impactful that he went on to found the Foundation’s first LGBTQIA+ support group: Queer with IBD, a group where community members could connect with others who shared an intersectional IBD experience. The group touches on themes from navigating dating and intimacy to coming out to medical providers.

“I have definitely felt less isolated in my experience as a result of the group,” said AJ. “Meeting other people who allow you to say, ‘Wow, I’m not the only one dealing with this ...’ is the biggest takeaway for me so far.”

From peer support groups to gender-neutral bathrooms on our We Can’t Wait restroom finder app and inspiring stories from LGBTQIA+ individuals living with IBD, the Foundation has resources to support you every step of the way.

This Pride Month, let’s go there together—toward healing, connection, and care for every IBD journey.

Resources to help you live your best life with IBD

A recent study published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases showed that sexual and gender minority individuals with IBD are more likely to face discrimination, including in healthcare settings, and experience negative feelings about themselves related to their illness. The study highlights the importance of welcoming and inclusive healthcare environments where people with IBD can be themselves.

The Foundation is committed to meeting every patient where they are on their disease journey and ensuring that everyone has the resources they need to thrive. From emotional well-being tools to avenues for community connection, discover the resources that are right for you.

How peer groups help foster healing and connection

When managing a chronic disease, forming relationships with people who know what you’re going through can make all the difference. Peer support offers those living with IBD a welcoming community of people who get it.

The Foundation’s Queer with IBD support group has two active virtual options: one for women and nonbinary people and another for gay and bisexual men. Members gather online from across the country—their common ground laying a foundation of understanding.

Sessions feature open discussions and expert guidance and focus on building resilience through shared stories. Attendees are empowered to embrace their identity while managing their health.

For Maria, who began attending Foundation support groups in 2012 after receiving her Crohn’s diagnosis, peer support has been a pillar of her disease management. In 2024, her journey came full circle when she became a facilitator for the women and nonbinary people support group.

“In this group, I felt seen and heard,” Maria shared. “Not only as a person with Crohn’s disease, but also as a member of the queer community. IBD can feel so isolating, and it means a lot to me to connect with others who have similar lived life and disease experiences.”

If you’re looking for a community to connect with in your own time and way, the Foundation has Facebook peer support groups for gay and bisexual men and lesbian and bisexual women with IBD.

Other resources and ways to feel seen

The Foundation also offers:

• We Can’t Wait restroom finder app – If you live with IBD, you know that an urge to go can come at a moment’s notice and knowing the location of the nearest restroom matters. The Foundation’s restroom finder app offers a simple way to find publicly accessible restrooms. The app will note if a restroom has a gender-neutral option to remove additional stress.

• Mental and emotional well-being resources – Living with a chronic and often painful illness can take a toll on your mental health and emotional well-being. You are not alone. Explore the Foundation’s resources designed to help you cope.

• Let’s Go There campaign – Storytelling is a powerful tool to bring conversations about living with IBD into the open. We’re breaking the silence around IBD, one story at a time. Share your journey and learn from others.

You can make an impact on IBD cures! Please consider making a donation to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.