The local, state, and federal governments provide health care, police and fire protection, public education, alcoholism and drug counseling, mental health services, and many other services. Lesbians and gay men are entitled to receive all services as efficiently and effectively as everyone else, although this is rarely spelled out in statutes and regulations.
When service is denied, it is frequently because a provider is uninformed or an agency lacks techniques or resources to deal with the needs of lesbians and gay men. For instance, a mental health counselor may assume that homosexuality is the "real" problem that needs to be "cured," when in fact a client is seeking treatment for depression or drug abuse, or a childcare worker may not have foster homes which will accept lesbian or gay adolescents.
As a result, many homosexual persons are deprived of needed services. Although alternative and private services do exist in some parts of the state, they cannot meet even the current level of demand. Bringing governmental services to the point where they will meet the needs of lesbians and gay men will necessitate commitment, time and resources by public and private agencies. The likelihood of this occurring is increased as more lesbians and gay men begin to insist upon proper service delivery.