Barriers and solutions to equitable funeral care in the U.S. for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Abstract

Research on the funeral industry in the United States is limited by privatization and the dearth of publicly available data, making assessment of equitable services a challenge. The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of LGBTQIA+ deathcare providers and consumers to understand barriers to equitable services. We interviewed 23 funeral providers (N = 17) and consumers (N = 6) using a phenomenological approach and employed grounded theory to develop a deeper understanding from different perspectives that could inform more equitable practices. Results suggested that fear of religious rejection, LGBTQIA+ consumer preferences, and traditional funeral practice should be evaluated and addressed. Potential solutions may be explicit marketing and safety signaling, deathcare provider involvement in LGBTQIA+ communities, and sweeping equality legislation.