Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian And Gay Health Updates And Resources

Update from the National Coalition for LGBT Health LGB people more likely to experience violence, subsequent PTSD LGB teenagers at higher risk for pregnancy than heterosexual peers New report on HIV and Aging New website focuses on the future of sex education  Transgender health resources now available The 6th annual National Gay Men’s Health Summit Hello! I am so excited to announce the Coalition’s first ever meeting focused on state involvement in healthcare reform on June 22nd to 23rd in Washington, DC. We will be discussing the landscape of healthcare reform, and identify state-level opportunities and models for leveraging reform to benefit the LGBT community. The meeting will cover various topics of importance to the LGBT community including HIV/AIDS care, insurance access, available funds, trans inclusion, and family definitions. In addition, we will cover the timeline and process for implementation. This meeting does not replace our fall membership meeting. I hope to see you there! To register or for more information, please send your name, organization, and email address to Marion Johnson at marion@lgbthealth.net As always, if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. Best, Rebecca Rebecca E. Fox Director National Coalition for LGBT Health Phone: 202-558-6828 www.lgbthealth.net LGB people more likely to experience violence, subsequent PTSD A new study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Children’s Hospital Boston finds that individuals who have ever had a same-sex sexual partner are one-and-a-half to two times as likely to experience violent events, especially in childhood, than the general population; and have twice the risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a consequence of these events. Using data from a nationally representative sample of more than 34,000 adults, the researchers found that forty-five percent of LGB women and twenty-eight percent of LGB men had experienced violence or abuse in childhood, compared to twenty-one percent of women and twenty percent of men in the general population. This is the first study to directly link higher rates of PTSD in sexual minorities to greater violence exposure. The authors urge that health care providers and families be aware that sexual minorities face a greater risk of violence and PTSD and may have a history of trauma that should be addressed before it becomes mentally debilitating. Please click here for more information. LGB teenagers at higher risk for pregnancy than heterosexual peers A study published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality suggests that LGB teenagers are at significantly higher risk for pregnancy than their heterosexual teens. The study, conducted by the University of British Columbia, looked at adolescent surveys of about 70,000 British Columbia. public school students in grades seven through twelve in 1992, 1998, and 2003. In 1998, 7.3 percent of lesbian and 10.6 percent of bisexual female teens reported pregnancy, compared with 1.8 percent of heterosexual girls. In the same year, 9.6 percent of gay and 11.6 percent of bisexual male teens reported involvement with a pregnancy, compared with 1.5 percent of heterosexual boys. The report suggested that the stigma LGB teenagers face, and the coping strategies they may use, may be one of the reasons for higher pregnancy rates. For the full story, please click here. New report on HIV and Aging According to a comprehensive report on HIV among older adults released by the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), nearly one-third of people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States are over the age of fifty. “Growing older with the epidemic: Aging and HIV” provides a striking overview of current knowledge on older adults and HIV. This population is growing at a startling rate, increasing by over 61% from 2001 to 2007. This groundbreaking report provides a roadmap to understand and address the needs of this burgeoning population of older Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Please click here for the report. New website focuses on the future of sex education Advocates for Youth, Answer, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) have announced the launch of the Future of Sex Ed (FoSE) website. The website seeks to help create a national dialogue about the future of sex education, and to promote the institutionalization of comprehensive sexuality education in public schools. Included on the website are: a FoSE fact sheet; an executive summary of FoSE’s strategic framework; a tool kit for states and communities; a public education primer; and an education glossary. The FoSE website can be found here. Transgender health resources now available The following resources have been made publicly available: from Fenway Health, a Massachusetts-based LGBT health center, a revised Glossary and Learning Module on transgender health; and from the New York Times, a three-part series by Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth entitled “Answers About Transgender Issues.” Part One  Part Two  Part Three Dr. Erickson-Schroth is also currently working on “Trans Bodies Trans Selves,” a resource guide for transgender and other gender-non-conforming individuals. The 6th annual National Gay Men’s Health Summit  The 6th annual National Gay Men’s Health Summit will be held from August 25th to August 29th, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This year’s theme will be “Creating a Brighter Future: The Next Decade of Gay Men’s Health,” and will be held in conjunction with the 9th annual Southeast Regional Gay Men’s Health Summit. The summit discussions will cover a broad spectrum of interests for men who have sex with men, with a key focus on strengths-based organizing, emerging issues, and other crucial topics. For more information on submitting a proposal, or to register for the Summit, visit the 2010 National Gay Men’s Health Summit website.