Moffitt Earns 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader Designation
TAMPA, Fla. – The Human Rights Campaign has once again named Moffitt Cancer Center an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader. This marks the 11th time the cancer center has received the designation.
“We always say that cancer does not discriminate, and that remains true,” said Cathy Grant, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Moffitt. “Creating an environment in which everyone is comfortable discussing health care and their best treatment options continues to be instrumental in our mission to prevent and cure cancer.”
A record 1,065 health care organizations took the survey and 384 earned the designation as a 2024 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader. Of those, the Human Rights Campaign reports that 71% have an official plan for reducing health disparities that specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients, in addition to race, ethnicity and linguistic concerns.
At Moffitt there has been ongoing work to ensure that all patients and their families are treated with respect and made comfortable. This includes transgender patients, whose health records indicate their preferred pronouns.
“Moffitt is very focused on inclusion,” Grant said. “The cancer center has policies in place to protect the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression rights of our team members and our patients.”
The designation also recognizes a commitment to equality in the workplace and applauds Moffitt’s ongoing dedication to providing Family and Medical Leave Act-equivalent benefits to employees in same-sex relationships. The Human Rights Campaign also recognizes institutions with employee resource groups that support the LGBTQ+ community. Moffitt has a collection of team member engagement groups where employees can participate in local events and raise awareness, including UNITY, which represents members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
Moffitt employs more than 9,500 team members, and they are invited to participate in any and all engagement groups of their choice. Each group is organized and run by team members who volunteer and work closely with leadership to ensure they represent Moffitt’s mission and values.
“Everyone deserves the best cancer treatment and care available, and patients and their families deserve to be comfortable in that treatment environment,” Grant said. “It’s an honor that Moffitt is recognized as a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community to come and receive the care they need and deserve.”
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-855-962-2099), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.
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