**9. Conclusion**

Homophobia is neither inevitable nor universal. It is socially constructed and maintained through homophobic discourse. Discourse is a powerful means of inciting and perpetuating prejudiced and discriminatory talk at the more implicit levels of communication. Disclaimers proved powerful discursive strategies of impression management. Their structure is such that it enables the speaker to express prejudiced attitudes, yet keeps the facade of tolerance. Language use perceived in its social context goes beyond mere articulation, it involves simultaneous action. Constructing and maintaining prejudices and discriminatory talk about homosexually oriented people may also result in unequal health care. Evidence was collected from gays and lesbians, midwives, and midwifery students. Gaining knowledge helps us overcome prejudice and fight discrimination. Understanding the powers of discourse gives us tools to deconstruct discriminatory messages and practices, triggers our critical thinking skills, raises our awareness, and enables us to act more tolerantly. Knowledge about homosexually oriented people and their health needs empowers health care professionals to provide better and more equal health care. In Slovenia, research should systematically be deployed to provide knowledge on LGBT people and their health needs, and professional education programs should adequately address them to deconstruct prejudices, raise awareness of discriminatory practices, and thus enable midwives to provide relevant, emphatic, holistic, and equally accessible midwifery care.
