The Coalition is excited that this spring has brought both beautiful weather to us here in DC and the continuation of many wonderful advocacy opportunities around a wide range of LGBT health issues. A few of the issues we’re working on are nondiscrimination in employment and access to health insurance and health care, working to ensure that federal guidance around the state-based health insurance exchanges is strong and inclusive of LGBT individuals and families, and advocating for data collection that counts our community in. We have also been fortunate to be able to participate in numerous events recently organized by our members, allies, and other partners in LGBT health. Keep reading to find out more!
CDC/HRSA Consultation on Updated Recommendations for HIV Prevention with Persons Living with HIV
On April 28 and 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) convened a consultation to review a set of proposed interventions and services for the next edition of Updated Recommendations for HIV Prevention with Persons Living with HIV (PLWH), scheduled to be released in 2012. The recommendations will include a broad range of HIV prevention activities, including partner services, STD treatment, linkage and retention in care, and HIV medication adherence. The recommendations will be consistent with several objectives identified in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy,including increasing the percentage of PLWH who know their HIV status to 90%; reducing HIV transmission rates by 30%; and increasing the percentage of newly diagnosed individuals linked into care within three months to 80%.
The meeting was co-sponsored by a number of national organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). The Coalition was well-represented by several organizational members, including AIDS Foundation of Chicago, AIDS Institute, American Psychological Association, Bienestar, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Chicago Department of Public Health, Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and Whitman-Walker Health.
First National Transgender Health Summit
The Center for Excellence in Transgender Health, headed by Coalition board member JoAnne Keatley, hosted the first-ever National Transgender Health Summit in San Francisco in April. The groundbreaking summit brought together a wide range of researchers, advocates, and community leaders, including Coalition members such as the Transgender Law Center, the Network for LGBT Health Equity, and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Hutson Inniss and Kellan Baker presented jointly with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) on the Coalition’s work around transgender health and health as a social justice issue. Kellan also presented with Masen Davis of the Transgender Law Center and Justus Eisfeld of Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE) on the wide range of state, national, and international opportunities for transgender health advocacy. A highlight of the summit was the release of the new Primary Care Protocol for Transgender Patient Care, which supports the Center’s mission to increase access to comprehensive, effective, and affirming health care services for trans and gender-variant communities.
Register Now for the 2011 National LGBTI Health Summit
We are just 60 days away from the 2011 National LGBTI Health Summit on July 16-19, 2011, in Bloomington, Indiana. Register now to take advantage of the low $150 registration cost, thanks to collaborations with Positive Link (a program of Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital), the City of Bloomington, and Indiana University. The conference offers CHES credits for public health professionals and a broad range of innovative workshops, plenaries, networking, organizing, and social activities to meld our "rainbow alphabet" together around our work in the field of LGBTI health. The 2011 National LGBTI Health Summit is dedicated to preserving and improving the emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and social health and wellness of LGBTI people. The theme of this year’s summit is "At the Crossroads," which emphasizes the summit’s mission to reach members of LGBTI communities who are marginalized and experience health disparities unique to race/ethnicity, age, and disability; as well as disparities on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender. Register now!
New LGBT-Inclusive Regulations from Department of Housing and Urban Affairs
Stable and affordable housing is a major component of good health and wellbeing for everyone, including LGBT people. Among other benefits, stable housing can help reduce substance use, lower risk of HIV infection, and improve mental and physical health. Earlier this year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed regulations banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in its core federal housing programs. The Coalition strongly supports the new regulations and submitted comments recommending a broader and more inclusive definition of family and asking that the proposed ban on discrimination be extended to include perceived as well as actual sexual orientation and gender identity. We applaud HUD for its commitment to helping make stable and affordable housing accessible for LGBT people and their families.
New LGBT-Inclusive Regulations from Department of Labor
Like housing, regular employment and a workplace free of discrimination and harassment is a crucial factor in quality of life for LGBT people. Employment is particularly important for health because employer-based health insurance is a cornerstone of the US health system. Recognizing this, the Department of Labor joined the Department of Health and Human Services in revising its equal employment opportunity policy to include gender identity as well as sexual orientation. The Coalition welcomes the new policies and looks forward to continuing to work with agencies such as the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Housing and Urban Affairs to create and implement policies that help LGBT people and their families lead safe and healthy lives.
LGBT Families Matter
Same-sex couples live in almost every county across the United States, and more than one million of these couples are raising children. These families need the same protections as any other family to ensure that parents and partners can fulfill their commitment to keeping each other and their children safe and healthy. Check out our new blog post at MomsRising Blog about what the Affordable Care Act means for LGBT people and their families. Then head over to the National Partnership for Women and Families to read more about how paid sick days standards help LGBT families.
Beginning with this issue, the Coalition will share information about new organizational members in our updates. We are excited to welcome several new members – read on to meet the Johnson Family Foundation!
New Member Profile: Johnson Family Foundation
The Coalition is thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome the Johnson Family Foundation as one of our newest members. The Foundation was founded in 1991 and is based in New York City. Over the past 20 years, it has awarded more than $28 million nationwide to numerous small and large nonprofit organizations, with the goals of helping to improve the health of our environment; promoting equality and social progress; and supporting education and youth. The Foundation’s mission is to support the development of healthy, vibrant, and just communities where individuals, families, and the next generation of leaders will thrive. Please join us in appreciating the Johnson Family Foundation’s support for the Coalition, and learn more about their work at their website.
What an amazing few weeks this has been for LGBT health! Celebrations for the 9th annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week went on around the country, and here in Washington we were thrilled to cap the week off with the announcement of two milestones in LGBT health. First, the Institute of Medicine released its long-awaited report, The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. Second, the Department of Health and Human Services convened a call for LGBT Health Awareness Week on which the co-chairs of the Department-wide LGBT Work Group shared important new initiatives that aim to help all LGBT people and their families live healthier lives. For more information on these and other exciting new developments, including urgent action items on Capitol Hill today, keep reading!
Tell your Representative to vote NO on repealing the $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund
Today, the House of Representatives is voting on a bill to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is a key element of the Affordable Care Act. This $15-billion fund will support community-based initiatives to reduce some of the nation’s leading causes of death, including tobacco use, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and violence. Find out how your state has already benefited from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and then call your Representative today to say NO to HR 1217. The Capitol switchboard is at (202) 224-3121.
Tell your Representative and Senators to vote NO on the Pence Bill, which prevents Planned Parenthood from receiving Title X funding
The House of Representatives votes today (April 13), and the Senate votes tomorrow (April 14) on the Pence Bill. This bill prevents Planned Parenthood from receiving any Title X funding, which would result in cuts to vital prevention, screening, counseling, and reproductive health services for millions of people, including many members of the LGBT community. Please check out this Washington Post article to find out how Planned Parenthood really spends its money, and then call your Representative and Senators TODAY to say VOTE NO on the Pence Bill. The Capitol switchboard is at (202) 224-3121.
Congress Passes Budget Agreement for Fiscal Year 2011 (through September 30, 2011)
On Friday, April 8, Congress and the President reached a last-minute deal to prevent a government shutdown. The final agreement includes $39 billion in cuts, significantly less than the original budget passed by the House in February (House Resolution 1, or HR1). Some of the details include: Title X Family Planning is funded at $300 million, $17 million below last year (HR1 included no funds for Title X); the National Institutes of Health is funded at $30.7 billion, which is $260 million below last year (HR1 cut NIH by $1.6 billion); the Community Services block grants are funded at $680 million, $20 million below last year (HR1 would have cut $305 million from these grants); and Workforce Investment Act job training grants are funded at $2.8 billion, $182 million below last year (HR1 included no funds for these programs). The final deal does not include several “policy riders” that were attached to HR1, which included attempts to cut off all funding to Planned Parenthood and to prohibit the use of federal funds for needle exchange programs. It does include a rider forbidding Washington, DC to use its own municipal taxes to fund abortion services. Importantly for our community health centers, the deal includes $600 million in cuts to the Community Health Center program from last year. Nevertheless, many lawmakers are saying that all community health centers will remain open and that there will be no cuts in services. If you are working in a community health center and would like to share how the cuts will affect your services, please contact Kellan at kbaker@lgbthealth.net or (202) 558-6828. Also be sure to check out this article from Kaiser Health News about the projected doubling of caseloads at community health centers over the next few years.
Institute of Medicine Releases New Report,The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding
A panel that included experts such as long-time Coalitionpartners Dr. Judith Bradford from the Fenway Institute and Dr. Rob Garofalo formally with Howard Brown Health Center spent over a year compiling this comprehensive report on the research gaps and opportunities in the field of LGBT health. The Coalition was live-tweeting from the release, and you can find a copy of the report and the summary here. The Coalition’s joint release about the report with the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association can be found on our website.
Department of Health and Human Services Convenes LGBT Health Awareness Week Call to Announce New LGBT-Focused Initiatives
On Friday, April 1, Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee, and Assistant Secretary for Children and Families David Hansell, the co-chairs of the LGBT Interagency Work Group at HHS, held a call with Coalitionmembers and other LGBT community stakeholders to announce several new initiatives at the Department that aim to offer the LGBT community new tools for improving the health of our families, friends, and neighbors. TheCoalition has been in close communication with the Department concerning the development of these and other priorities, and we will continue to work to ensure the full implementation of these initiatives and to advance other important priorities with HHS. The full list of new initiatives can be found here.
National Coalition and Center for American Progress Release New Report, Changing the Game: What Health Care Reform Means for LGBT Americans
The National Coalition for LGBT Health and the Center for American Progress marked LGBT Health Awareness Week with the release of Changing the Game: What Health Care Reform Means for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans. The report provides an overview of the health disparities experienced by LGBT people, followed by a brief discussion of several provisions of the Affordable Care Act that hold particular promise for improving the health and well-being of the LGBT community. The report continues into an investigation of four major areas where efforts by LGBT advocates and their allies in each state will be key to ensuring that the new health law delivers the largest possible positive results for the LGBT community when the law is fully implemented by 2014. These areas are achieving comprehensive nondiscrimination protections in health insurance exchanges, establishing LGBT-inclusive data collection policies, recognizing and including LGBT families in all health reform activities, and supporting community-based health interventions that are LGBT-inclusive. Find out what’s happening in your state around health care reform and join the conversation!
News Coverage of LGBT Health Awareness Week Celebration from around the Country
The Coalition’s members and partners, including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Chase Brexton Health Services, the Human Rights Campaign, Mazzoni Center, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the LBGT Caucus of the American Academy of Physician Assistants were busy throughout LGBT Health Awareness Week with celebrations of the strength and resiliency of the LGBT community and reminders of the importance of LGBT health. Check out our website for stories, resources, and ideas for keeping LGBT health in the news and on people’s minds throughout the year!
Department of Health and Human Services Releases New National Plan for Action to Eliminate Health Disparities
On Friday, April 8, the Office of Minority Health within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services released its new National Partnership for Action to Eliminate Health Disparities, which includes the LGBT-inclusive National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity. The Partnership looks forward to welcoming LGBT advocates, organizations, and providers in a wide-ranging effort to eliminate health disparities, including those that affect the LGBT community. Check out the strategy, share your thoughts, and sign up for the Partnership on the Office of Minority Health website.
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
The National Coalition for LGBT Health recognizes the importance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and urges its community partners and members to participate in local and regional activities on this day.
National Coalition for LGBT Health Announces Executive Director
The board of the National Coalition for LGBT Health is excited to announce that Hutson W. Inniss has accepted our offer to become the Executive Director of the National Coalition for LGBT Health! Over the past few months as Interim Executive Director, Hutson has shown the leadership and tenacity we hope for in an Executive Director, and we are delighted to have him in the permanent role. Inniss comes to the Coalition with over 20 years of experience in program management, fund development, and staff supervision, in addition to extensive experience with HIV prevention, LGBT youth, and suicide prevention. His experience with and commitment to LGBT health is exactly what we were looking for in an Executive Director, and we are excited to continue the legacy of the Coalition under his leadership. Please join us in welcoming him!
Ninth Annual LGBT Health Awareness Week – Materials Online
The 9th annual LGBT Health Awareness Week is coming up soon! Join community members and advocates across the country from March 28 to April 1 for a week of events celebrating the resiliency of the LGBT community, fighting health disparities, and advocating for our right to health and health care! 2011 LGBT Health Awareness Week materials are available online (click here), and keep checking back for more updates as we get ready to come out for LGBT health! Materials are also available in Spanish.
Secretary Sebelius Discusses How Affordable Care Act Makes a Difference for LGBT Community
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius shares
(click here) how the new healthcare law is already making a difference in LGBT people’s lives by helping individuals and families get health care and health insurance, addressing health disparities, and putting our nation on a better path for the future. Check out the 2011 LGBT Health Awareness Week website (click here) for ideas of how to work with Secretary Sebelius, President Obama, the National Coalition, and community partners from around the country to support goals of the Affordable Care Act and help keep our community healthy!
Knowing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identify Can Impact Patient Health
Diane Bruessow of the LBGT Caucus of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)* explains (click here) the four critical opportunities during the delivery of health care services when knowing sexual orientation and gender identity can impact a patient's health. Check it out and get ready for 2011 LGBT Health Awareness Week!
GLMA Invites Abstract Submission for 29th Annual Conference
The Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)* invites abstract submissions for its 29th Annual Conference, the world’s largest scientific meeting focusing on LGBT health, which will take place September 21-25 in Atlanta, GA. This year’s conference will place special emphasis on transgender health; LGBT health training for medical, nursing and other health sciences students and providers; and the intersections of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status and their impact on health disparities. In an exciting new partnership, GLMA will also join the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and Southern Comfort in hosting a joint symposium on transgender health on Sunday, September 25. Abstract submissions for the 2011 GLMA Annual Conference are being accepted through March 21. For more information, please see www.glma.org or contact annualconference@glma.org or (202) 600-8037.
Abstracts Accepted for 5th Annual National LGBTI Health Summit
Abstracts are being accepted until April 20 for the fifth annual National LGBTI Health Summit, which will take place July 16-19, 2011 in Bloomington, IN. The National LGBTI Health Summit is dedicated to preserving and improving the emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and social health and wellness of LGBTI people. The theme of this year’s conference is “At the Crossroads,” which emphasizes the conference’s mission to reach members of our communities who are marginalized and experience health disparities associated with race, ethnicity, age, and disability as well as the disparities that they face as part of the LGBTI community. Please visit the conference website for more information on the conference and to submit an abstract.
Wellness Institute Webinar March 21
Interested in learning more about the health and wellness needs of LGBT people and how addressing them benefits us all? Join the Wellness Institute on March 21 from 2-3 PM Eastern for a webinar titled “Opening Our Doors: Providing competent and caring health and wellness services to LGBT people.” The webinar will be presented by Lis Maurer, CWP, CFLE, CSE and Maureen Kelly, CFLE, CSE. For more information or to register, please see the Wellness Institute’s website.
How LGBT People Gain Health Insurance Coverage under Affordable Care Act
A recent article (click here) features insights from the National Coalition, the Center for American Progress, and the Williams Institute on how LGBT people are set to make gains in access to health insurance coverage through employers and the private market under the Affordable Care Act.
National Transgender Discrimination Survey
Transgender and gender-nonconforming people face rampant discrimination in every area of life: education, employment, family life, public accommodations, housing, health, police and jails, and ID documents. This data is so shocking that it will change the way you think about transgender people, and it should change the way you advocate. Read Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, prepared by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force* and the National Center for Transgender Equality*. (click here)
* Coalition Member Organization
2011 has been a busy year already for LGBT health advocates. Despite the recent symbolic vote in the House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act, implementation of the law continues full-force, and there are numerous opportunities for LGBT and allied healthadvocates to push for the full inclusion of LGBT individuals, families, and communities in health reform. Elsewhere in the field of LGBT health, there’s so much going on that we struggle to pick just a few things to highlight for you in every update. After you check out the stories below, don’t forget to stop by our website at www.lgbthealth.net. We try to keep our Facebook page (“The National Coalition for LGBT Health”) updated with important news and events that affect LGBT health. If you have a story to share, please feel free to post it on our Wall!
Coalition Board Re-elections and New Board Member Appointments
The National Coalition for LGBT Health Board of Directors welcomes three returning Board members who were re-elected and two new members who were appointed by the Board. Daniel Gould, Verónica Bayetti Flores, and Leslie Calman were re-elected, and Nurit Shein and Michael Plankey are our newly appointed Board members. Brief biographical information follows.
Returning Board Member - Daniel Gould, LCSW
California LGBT Health and Human Services Network at Equality California
Daniel Gould has directed the California LGBT Health and Human Services Network since July of 2008. A graduate of the School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, and Mt. Holyoke College, Daniel has worked for more than 18 years in health and social services. He most recently served as staff clinician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and in Mental Health Services at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Daniel’s experience also includes co-founding and managing health programs for FTMA of Los Angeles, a community-based organization working with transgender communities. Currently he is adjunct faculty in the Master of Arts Program LGBT Specialization in Psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles. Daniel has been a Board member of the National Coalition for LGBT Health since 2008.
Returning Board Member - Verónica Bayetti Flores, MPH
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
Verónica began her work in sexual health as an HIV and sexual health counselor at a community clinic during her time as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received her B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies. She has since worked to increase access to contraception, fought for paid sick leave, demanded access to safe public space for queer youth of color, and helped to lead social justice efforts in Wisconsin and New York City. In 2008 Verónica obtained her Master’s degree in the Sexuality and Health program at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. Verónica is currently the Senior Policy Analyst at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, where, among other things, she is in charge of the Institute’s LGBTQ Latin@s project. As a queer immigrant Latina, this work is incredibly personal, but it is driven primarily by the principles of social justice and human rights. She has sat on the board of the National Coalition for LGBT Healthfor two years and looks forward to continuing to serve the Coalition.
Returning Board Member - Leslie J. Calman, PhD
Mautner Project: The National Lesbian HealthOrganization
Leslie Calmanhas served on the Coalition’s Board for two years, and as a member of the Executive Committee and Treasurer for one year – during which time, she has participated in strategic planning and the transition to a new executive director.Leslie is Executive Director of Mautner Project: The National Lesbian HealthOrganization. Mautner Project, founded in 1990, provides direct service and support to lesbian and bisexual women and transgender persons with cancer and other serious illnesses, their families, and their caregivers in the Washington, D.C. area. Additionally, Mautner Project works around the country to educate healthcare providers about the needs and concerns of their LBT clients in order to increase their cultural competency, reduce stigmatizing behaviors, and create quality services and environments. Mautner Project educates LBT women about importanthealth issues, including the need for preventive care, screenings and adoption of healthful habits, including smoking cessation, exercise and good nutrition. Finally, Mautner Project engages in research and advocacy to promote the health of LBT women.
New Board Member - Nurit Shein
Mazzoni Center
Nurit Shein is the Executive Director of Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia's only nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the health care needs of the LGBT community. A native of Israel, Nurit was a career officer in the Israeli Army. She served in intelligence, women's corps, and commanded the education corps of the Israeli army, and retired as a colonel. She later worked as the director of programs for the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. Nurit has taught extensively on Jewish and LGBT issues, Israel, and the Middle East conflict and is a Board member of the LGBT synagogue of Philadelphia, Beth Ahavah.
New Board Member - Michael Plankey, PhD
LGBT Caucus of the American Public HealthAssociation
Michael Plankey is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University, Department of Medicine. His professional affiliations include serving as the Medical Center Representative to the Georgetown University LGBT Affairs Committee; Scientific Program Chair, LGBT Caucus of the American Public Health Association; serving as a member of George Washington University HIV Institute; serving as a member of George Washington University HIV Research Community Advisory Board; and previous membership on the District of Columbia’s HIV Prevention Community Planning Group. Michael held previous appointments as a Senior Scientist/Epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute and as a Research Fellow for the Association of Schools of Public Health, National Center for Health Statistics. He is board certified in Nuclear Medicine Technology and has published numerous articles.
New Board Officers Elected, and Thanks to Wendy Stark
On January 20, 2011, the Board of Directors elected its leadership for 2011. Verónica Bayetti Flores will serve as Co-Chairperson of the board for a two-year term, and Daniel Gould will serve as Co-Chairperson for one-year term. Leslie Calman was re-elected as Treasurer for a two-year term. As part of the Executive Committee they join David Haltiwanger, who is completing a two-year term as Secretary. The Coalition extends its appreciation to all of its Board officers for their willingness to volunteer their time and talents in supporting the organization’s mission.
The Board of Directors and staff would like to thank Wendy Stark for serving as Co-Chairperson for the last year. Her dedication and hard work helped to make 2010 an extraordinary year for the National Coalition for LGBTHealth, and she provided strong leadership during its executive transition and strategic planning. While she will be missed in her capacity as co-chair, she will continue to serve on the Board through December 2011.
Health Reform Repeal Vote
On January 19, the House of Representatives passed a symbolic vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The Coalition, together with thousands of other organizations and health advocates, strongly opposed repeal. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., in whose honor and memory we dedicated the first day of this week, reminded us almost fifty years ago that "of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." Repeal would rob millions of people, including LGBT people and their families, of important protections they have gained as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many LGBT people who have never been able to afford healthinsurance or health care will be able to apply for Medicaid or affordable private coverage in every state. LGBT people will not be subject to denials of insurance coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions or to arbitrary cancellation of coverage when they become ill. The Affordable Care Act also supports work such as expanding LGBT cultural competency in the health care workforce, making free preventive care available to everyone who needs it, improving data collection to better identify and address LGBT health disparities, and recognizing the increasing diversity of America’s families.
LGBT Health in The Nation blog
Blogger Nancy Goldstein talks with the Coalition about how health care reform is a “game changer,” and not just for the LGBT community. Learn more about the unintended queer upside of the Affordable Care Actand stay tuned for Part II of the story!
9th Annual LGBT Health Awareness Week Coming Up
The 9th annual LGBT Health Awareness Week will be celebrated March 28-April 1. This year’s theme, “Come Out for Health,” will focus on finding opportunities for us all to get engaged in talking with our health care providers, government representatives, and neighbors, allies, and friends about why LGBT health is important. More information and materials will be available soon!
Gender: A Lens for Health Equity?
Coalition Board member Veronica Bayetti Flores, the Senior Policy Analyst at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Coalition Senior Policy Associate Kellan Baker joined our partners at Raising Women’s Voices on January 11 for an in-depth exploration of using gender and sexuality as lenses for working toward health equity for all under the Affordable Care Act. The conversation ranged from ensuring access to preventive care for everyone, including transgender people, to LGBT inclusion in sex ed programs and the importance of LGBT data collection as a vital venue for telling our stories and getting our voices heard. Learn more about how you can continue this discussion in your own work through the Raising Women’s Voices site.
Prevention and the LGBT Community
One of the centerpieces of the Affordable Care Act is the National Prevention Strategy, which is being developed by the Surgeon General and a team of representatives from every federal agency. The Coalition believes that prevention and wellness are cornerstones of LGBT health, and together with many of our partner organizations we’ve rolled up our sleeves and jumped into the process of participating in the drafting of the Strategy. You can find the Coalition’s comments, which cover issues from sexual and reproductive health to mental health, LGBT data collection, and how this all fits with Healthy People 2020 and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, on our website. Thanks to everyone who also participated in the comment period!
Save the Date National Transgender Health Summit, April 8th and 9th, 2011, San Francisco, CA
Please save April 8th and 9th, 2011 for two exciting days of scientific presentations focused on best practices in the provision of health care for transgender patients. The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at the University of California at San Francisco invites health care providers and health profession students interested in improving health care for transgender people to attend this groundbreaking Summit, which will include plenary sessions by world-renowned experts in the field of transgender health care, as well as workshops, films, and networking opportunities. Food and drink will be provided. A limited number of scholarships are available for health professionals. Space is limited, so please RSVP now at transhealthsummit@ucsf.edu.
Abstract Submission
Please submit a description of the content and format of the workshop you would like to present (250 words maximum), including title, presenter names and contact information, and a brief bio of each presenter (100 words maximum for each presenter) that describes their professional education and experience providing health care to transgender patients. We welcome presentations from diverse health care disciplines. Workshops will be organized into tracks based on the content of the abstracts accepted. Workshop tracks/themes may include:
- Clinical care (e.g. surgical and hormonal care, and post-operative care)
- Mental health care (e.g. care in the age of the Gender Identity Disorder diagnosis, quality of life issues, PTSD and suicidality among transgender people)
- Care in practice (e.g. case studies, problem-based learning)
- Specific populations (e.g. youth, elders, people of color)
- Specific medical issues (e.g. HIV care and treatment, street hormones and silicone use, substance abuse treatment, sexual health promotion)
The due date for abstract submissions is January 31, 2011
For additional information, including scholarship applications, please contact the Center of Excellence at transhealthsummit@ucsf.edu or visit the website at www.transhealth.ucsf.edu.
Save the Date! 1era Cumbre Puertorriqueña Pro Salud Lesbiana, Gay, Bisexual, Transgénero y Transexual (LGBTT): miércoles, 2 de marzo de 2011 en San Juan, Puerto Rico
¿Crees que los estereotipos y la violencia hacia la comunidad LGBTT en Puerto Rico afectan tu cuidado y acceso a servicios de salud? ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que fuiste donde tu médico y pudiste expresarte abiertamente sobre tu identidad de género o tu orientación sexual para atender tus necesidades de salud?¿Te interesa contribuir a crear conciencia de las realidades y perspectivas LGBTT en el sistema de salud de Puerto Rico?
La 1era Cumbre Puertorriqueña Pro Salud Lesbiana, Gay, Bisexual, Transgénero y Transexual (LGBTT) es un espacio abierto y seguro que provee la oportunidad para contestar éstas y otras preguntas. La Cumbre pretende traer visibilidad, presentar evidencia científica y proponer inclusión de las realidades de salud en la comunidad LGBTT ante el pueblo puertorriqueño, la comunidad salubrista a nivel local y nacional y el Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico.
This has been a productive year for the National Coalition for LGBT Health. This year’s Annual Meeting and Tenth Year Anniversary Celebration was both informative and inspiring, and we are thankful to all of our members and community partners who joined together to build strategies addressing health and wellness in LGBT communities across the country. The New Year will bring new opportunities and challenges, but the Coalition’s staff would like to close out this year by sharing a short video about some of our favorite accomplishments of 2010.
A New Guide to LGBT Health in the Affordable Care Act from the Coalition
The Coalition is excited to present a new resource, “The Affordable Care Act and the LGBT Community: An LGBT-focused Analysis.” This guide explains key sections of the Affordable Care Act and is intended to help health advocates and organizations understand and strategize around the impact of healthcare reform on the LGBT community. This document can be found on the “Resources” section of the Coalition’s website and will be updated as the process of healthcare reform implementation unfolds.
Launch of Healthy People 2020
On December 2, the Coalition welcomed the release of Healthy People 2020, the federal blueprint for building a healthier nation between 2010 and 2020. The Coalition is particularly pleased that Healthy People 2020 includes an entire topic area devoted specifically to LGBT health. As you may know, Coalition was founded ten years ago by advocates working to achieve LGBT inclusion in Healthy People 2010. This key victory would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of advocates like Dr. Judy Bradford at the Fenway Center for Population Research in LGBT Health, Dr. Randy Sell at Drexel University, Dr. Scout at the Network for LGBT Health Equity, Dr. Ed Craft at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and many others. Check out the new LGBT topic area at www.healthypeople.gov, and keep checking back regularly for updates to the fully online, fully interactive Healthy People. We look forward to working with the Department of Health and Human Services, our members, and community health advocates around the country to turn the promise of Healthy People 2020 into a healthier future for the LGBT community. Key next steps will be the development of objectives for the LGBT health topic area and engagement by LGBT health advocates and service providers around the country in demonstrating the relevance of Healthy People 2020 in advancing LGBT health.
Community Prevention Webinar: December 20, 2010
On Monday, December 20, the Prevention Institute, PolicyLink, Public Health Institute, and Trust for America’s Health will host a webinar on community prevention, which is a key area for highlighting LGBT health concerns and promoting programs that address the health and wellbeing of LGBT people. Speakers will provide updates on the status of community prevention provisions such as the Community Transformation Grants program in the Affordable Care Act; share next steps and actions that communities and advocates can take to further the understanding of politicians, the media, and the local community about the value of community prevention; and share recent examples of community prevention successes. The webinar will be from 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern Time--we hope to see you there! Register here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Release New STD Treatment Guidelines
The CDC has released new STD treatment guidelines that include specific sections for men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW). For more details and a link to the guidelines, please see our website.
Center for American Progress Releases New Reports on Mental Health Services for LGBT Youth
The Center for American Progress, with the support of the National Coalition for LGBT Health, has released new fact sheets on mental health services for LGBT youth. The two fact sheets, “Providing a Lifeline for LGBT Youth: Mental Health Services and the Age of Consent” and “How to Improve Mental Health Care for LGBT Youth: Recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services,” detail the obstacles LGBT youth face in accessing appropriate mental health services and offer recommendations for advocates working to connect LGBT youth with vital mental health resources. The fact sheets can be found on our website.
New LGBT-Inclusive Federal Guidelines on Multiple Chronic Conditions
Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services issued its new Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions, “an innovative private-public sector collaboration to coordinate responses to a growing challenge.” According to the report, “More than one in four Americans have multiple (two or more) concurrent chronic conditions (MCC), including, for example, arthritis, asthma, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, heart disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and hypertension.” In response to comments submitted by the National Coalition and several of its partners on the draft framework, the final version includes recognition of HIV as a chronic condition and notes, “It is likely that as racial and ethnic, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, age, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities of access to care and health outcomes exist in the total population, those disparities also exist in the MCC population.” For a link to the report and supporting information, please see http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/mcc/.
National Coalition Welcomes Release of Final Rule on Hospital Visitation
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a final rule governing nondiscrimination in hospital visitation. This new rule protects the right of all patients to designate and receive the visitors of their choice, including a same-sex spouse or a domestic partner, and requires the more than 6,000 hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs to not discriminate in visitation rights on the basis of factors including sexual orientation and gender identity. While we still have a long way to go toward ensuring that all members of the LGBT community are fully and consistently protected from discrimination in health care settings, these new hospital visitation protections are a significant federal recognition of the validity of LGBT people’s lives and relationships. The final rule incorporates numerous suggestions made by the Coalition and its partner organizations during the period of public comment on the draft rule. For the full press release highlighting some of these changes, please click here.
Celebrating the Release of Healthy People 2020
The Coalition was founded ten years ago by advocates working to achieve LGBT inclusion in Healthy People 2010, the federal government's blueprint for building a healthier nation between 2000 and 2010. Now, after a decade of hard work, we are thrilled to announce that Healthy People 2020 will include not only numerous objectives important for the LGBT community, but also an entire topic area devoted to LGBT health. During his plenary speech at the Coalition’s recent annual meeting, Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh personally invited the Coalition’s members to celebrate this milestone at the upcoming launch of Healthy People 2020. Join Assistant Secretary Koh, Coalition staff and members, and other community health advocates on Thursday, December 2nd for an introduction and orientation to the Healthy People 2020 website and objectives, followed by a panel discussion about the uses of Healthy People 2020. The launch will be held from 11:00-1:00 PM Eastern Time at the Jack Morton Auditorium of the George Washington University, 805 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. The event also will be available via Web streaming, and you can ask live questions via Webcast and Twitter.
Click http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020_reg/default.aspx to register and learn more about the event. We hope to see you there!
Creation of New Task Force On LGBT Youth Suicide Prevention Announced
The LGBT community has been devastated by the recent cluster of suicides of LGBT youth, many of them driven by bullying and harassment at school. In response to the continuing loss of so many young LGBT people, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the creation of a national task force dedicated to suicide prevention among LGBT youth. The task force will be part of the new National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, which includes SAMHSA, other divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education. SAMHSA has been a long-time leader of federal activities in the field of LGBT health and supports numerous programs and organizations that serve the LGBT community. In her announcement of the creation of the task force, SAMHSA Administrator Pam Hyde cited her recent meeting with the Coalition as motivation to seek out new ways of working with the community and involving LGBT health organizations such as The Trevor Project in federal anti-bullying and suicide prevention efforts. The Coalition applauds Administrator Hyde and her staff at SAMHSA for their dedication to the wellbeing and concerns of LGBT people and looks forward to supporting the new task force in working to save the lives of our community’s young people. To read an article on the creation of the task force, please click here
Learn More about the Community Transformation Grants and the National Prevention Strategy
A recent webinar sponsored by Trust for America’s Health and the Prevention Institute offered the Coalition and more than 800 other community health advocates the opportunity to learn more about the Community Transformation Grant (CTG) program and the National Prevention Strategy, two centerpiece initiatives of the Affordable Care Act. The Coalition’s senior policy associate, Kellan Baker, and Dr. Scout from the National LGBT Tobacco Control Network (a Coalition member) were invited to ask questions on key points of the CTG program and the National Prevention Strategy, including how the CTG program will address the needs of identity-based communities like the LGBT community, how resources can be directed through this program to building the evidence base for LGBT health programs, and how the CTG program and the National Prevention Strategy will be coordinated with Healthy People 2020. The Coalition continues to be engaged in a dialogue with the Department of Health and Human Services about answers to these questions. For an opportunity to share your thoughts on the National Prevention Strategy, please see the next item below.
To access a copy of the Power Point slides used on the call, please click here.
Comment on the Draft National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy
The National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy is a major initiative of the Affordable Care Act and will guide the work of the newly constituted National Prevention and Health Promotion Council. The Council is chaired by the Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, and it includes representatives of all of the federal agencies. To see a draft of the National Prevention Strategy, please click here.
Some points of interest in the draft Strategy include the Strategic Objective focusing on eliminating health disparities and the Strategic Objective on building a strong public health infrastructure, which includes improving data collection efforts to identify and track health disparities. Both of these Objectives should specifically include recognition of the health disparities and health data gaps that impact the LGBT community. The Strategy is also a key opportunity for LGBT health advocates to encourage the federal agency representatives on the Council to recognize how their work impacts the health and wellbeing of LGBT people. For example, the Department of Education should use the Strategy to frame its response to anti-LGBT bullying in order to protect LGBT youth.
Comments are being welcomed until December 5th and should be sent to
prevention.council@hhs.gov.
Comment Period Open for Definition of Essential Health Benefits
The Institute of Medicine is also accepting comments on the contents of the essential health benefits that must be covered by all new individual and small-group insurance plans. Share your thoughts on essential services for the LGBT community here.
FDA Panel Recommends Approval of Gardasil for Anal Cancer Prevention
Acting on recommendations from numerous health advocates, including Coalition members, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has recommended that the FDA approve Gardasil to prevent anal cancer in both men and women. Gardasil, a vaccine that targets strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause genital warts and cervical cancer, was originally approved only for girls and younger women. In 2009, the FDA approved it to prevent genital warts in boys and young men, but it has not yet been approved to prevent anal cancer. This new recommendation will influence many providers’ decision to offer the vaccine and will encourage insurance companies to cover it. For the full article, please click here.
On behalf of the National Coalition for LGBT Health’s Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce that the following individuals and organizations will be honored during the Coalition’s Annual Meeting and Tenth Anniversary Celebration.
Organizational Award: Center for American Progress
For Contributions to LGBT Inclusion in Federal Health Policy: presented to Jeff Krehely, Director of LGBT Research and Communications, and Winnie Stachelberg, Senior VP for External Affairs http://americanprogress.org
Individual Award: Barbara Warren, PhD
For Exceptional Dedication in Advocacy for LGBT Health
Special Recognition: Rebecca Fox
For Service in LGBT Health Advocacy as Executive Director of the National Coalition for LGBT Health
Special Recognition: Community Health Centers
For Their Role in Providing Culturally Competent Health Services to LGBT Communities: presented to Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative (Atlanta, GA), Callen-Lorde Health Center (New York, NY), Chase Brexton Health Services (Baltimore, MD), Fenway Health (Boston, MA), Gay Men’s Health Crisis (New York, NY), Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective (Hartford, CT), Howard Brown Community Health Center (Chicago, IL), L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center (Los Angeles, CA), Legacy Community Health Services (Houston, TX), Lyon-Martin Health Services (San Francisco, CA), Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders for Health (Boston, MA), Mazzoni Center (Philadelphia, PA), Metro Charities (St. Petersburg, FL), Metro Health (Cleveland, OH), New York LGBT Community Center (New York, NY), Healthcare of Southeastern Massachusetts (Brockton, MA), Holyoke Health Center (Holyoke, MA), The Mautner Project (Washington, DC), Penobscot Community Health Care (Bangor, ME), Tapestry Health (Florence, MA), Whitman-Walker Clinic (Washington, DC)
LA Gay and Lesbian Center Receives Landmark Grant
The Coalition is excited to announce that one of its members, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, recently received a landmark $13.3 million grant to fund the development of a model program for LGBTQ foster youth. The grant, from the Administration for Children and Families headed by David Hansell, is the largest federal grant ever awarded to an LGBT organization. There is a dire need for a program of this kind; according to a 2001 study, 78% of LGBTQ foster youth were forced to leave their foster placements due to hostility related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The grant also supports internal evaluation and documentation of the Center's program so that it can be replicated across the country. Such grants to LGBT service providers and organizations are a key aspect of ensuring that government resources reach innovative initiatives that positively impact the health and wellbeing of LGBT people. The Coalition encourages its members to approach the federal agencies for support for such programs and commends the Department of Health and Human Services for its increasing recognition of the leadership and dedication of community-based organizations in serving the broad diversity of the LGBT community.
CDC Report on Gay Men
On its new website, Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced the release of a new report finding that one in five gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in 21 major U.S. cities is HIV-positive. In the study, which used data from the 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) for over 8,000 men from cities severely impacted by HIV and AIDS,forty-four percent of HIV-positive men are not aware of their status, making testing a critical component of HIV prevention work. The study identified strong links between HIV rates and race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The report identified young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, particularly those of color, as least likely on average to know their HIV status. "It is critical that we reach these young men early in their lives with HIV prevention and testing services and continue to make these vital services available as they become older," said Jonathan Mermin, M.D., director of the CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. In conjunction with this report, the CDC has also updated the fact sheet “HIV and AIDS among Gay and Bisexual Men” to include a summary of the findings from the new study as well as protection recommendations. The Coalition applauds our numerous members, such as Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), and many others, who continue to push forward with advocacy and service agendas dedicated to ending the epidemic not only in the LGBT community but among all groups affected by HIV and AIDS.
Opportunity to provide feedback on SAMSHA’s Strategic Plan
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently released a strategic plan called "Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA’s Roles and Actions 2011- 2014." Built around eight strategic initiatives, this plan summarizes SAMHSA’s current work and outlines future efforts to improve health by reducing the impact of mental illnesses and substance abuse. In conjunction with the release of the plan, SAMHSA is providing the opportunity to read the plan and provide feedback using a new web forum. SAMHSA is one of the strongest supporters of issues of concern to the LGBT community, and we encourage you to provide feedback and vote for particularly important priorities using this innovative forum.
One major issue is that the plan includes little mention of LGBT concerns, and, when LGBT issues are mentioned, LGBT youth are often the only specific focus. While the Coalition applauds SAMHSA for its concern for LGBT youth, we hope that the final plan will include a much more comprehensive discussion of mental health and substance use priorities for LGBT people across the lifespan. The document also fails to mentionHIV/AIDS, despite the note in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy that “substance use is associated with a greater likelihood of acquiring HIV infection. HIV screening and other comprehensive HIV prevention services should be coupled with substance treatment programs.” Finally, we hope you will vote for the Coalition’s call for improved data collection on the mental health and substance use issues affecting the LGBT population.
Dave Reynolds, Senior Public Policy and Research Manager at the Trevor Project, to Lead Session on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention at Coalition’s Annual Meeting
According to a recent survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), nearly 9 of 10 gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual middle and high school students suffered physical or verbal harassment in 2009, ranging from taunts to outright beatings. Since the beginning of September, nine young people have completed suicide after being bullied over their sexual orientation or gender expression. The Trevor Project, based in Los Angeles, is one of the leading organizations working to combat the climate of fear and harassment that take the lives of too many of our LGBTQ youth. Join Dave Reynolds, Senior Public Policy and Research Manager at the Trevor Project, on Monday, October 25th for a session titled “Incorporating Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in LGBT Health Advocacy.” Dave will describe Trevor’s work, which includes advocating peer acceptance and helping prevent teen suicide by promoting mental health and positive self-esteem through their website, nationwide 24/7 call centers, and empowering social activities. Register today to learn about meeting this vital need for LGBTQ youth and others in our community.
Annual Survey: Healthcare Equality Index 2011
The annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) survey is now online. The HEI survey is a self-evaluative tool for measuring compliance with best practices and cultural competency related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients and their families. Top-performing facilities are publically recognized for their LGBT-inclusive policies and practices and awarded a “Best Healthcare Facility for LGBT Families” logo to use in advertising efforts to attract LGBT patients and families and to stand out among their peers. Survey topics include nondiscrimination policies, cultural competency training, and recognition of families that are headed by same-sex couples. The 2011 survey can be completed online now through December 31, 2010. Survey results will be released in the spring of 2011. To obtain your facility's unique username and password for the online survey, contact Tom Sullivan at the Human Rights Campaign (a Coalition member) at (202) 216-1594 or HEI@hrc.org. Learn more about this project at http://www.hrc.org/hei
This is an exciting time to be part of the National Coalition for LGBT Health. Over the past few days, we have witnessed one of the Coalition’s major objectives become part of the national conversation on health policy. After Representative Tammy Baldwin’s bill on improving data collection was introduced in the House of Representatives (see article below), several news outlets gave an in-depth analysis of the proposed legislation and its importance to improving access to health care for LGBT people. The staff and membership continues to work with both Congress and the Obama administration to ensure that the needs of our communities are met. The Coalition would also like to thank its partner organizations working through the New Beginning Initiative, convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (a Coalition member), for its continued efforts in working with federal agencies in supporting LGBT data collection through regulatory change.
If you are in Washington, DC on October 2nd, we encourage you to join labor, civil rights, women’s, youth, environmental, immigrant, faith, and peace communities in the “One Nation Working Together” March. National Stonewall Democrats (a Coalition member) and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, along with the National Black Justice Coalition and Pride at Work, are co-convening the LGBTQ contingent during this historic march, and there will be a table with LGBTQ materials and resources. For more information on how you can participate in the national march or sponsor a local event in your community, please visit www.onenationworkingtogether.org.
As mentioned in previous updates, Kellan Baker and Hutson Inniss participated in the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA – a Coalition member) conference on September 22-25 in San Diego, California. Kellan led several workshops on LGBT health policy and advocacy, and he participated in a plenary session with Herb Schultz, Region IX Director for the Department of Health and Human Services, on Advancing LGBT Health through Healthcare Reform Implementation. It was great seeing so many Coalition members participating in this conference, including Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Fenway Health, Howard Brown Community Health Center, Mazzoni Center, and numerous other members and partners. Congratulations to the staff and board of GLMA for hosting a wonderful event.
Health Data Collection Improvement Act Approved by Energy and Commerce Subcommittee
On Friday, September 20th, the Health Data Collection Improvement Act (H.R. 6109) was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. The bill, authored by Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-2nd WI) with the support of the Coalition, aims to address the lack of available data on the health status of LGBT people through data collection done by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Several amendments offered during the session, which would have severely undermined the purpose of the bill, were rejected. Though the future of the bill remains uncertain, the Coalition looks forward to continuing to work with Congresswoman Baldwin as well as the bill’s co-sponsors, Representatives Donna Christensen (D-VI), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust, and Representative Frank Pallone (D-6th NJ), on legislative progress around LGBT health and data collection priorities.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Launches Website Dedicated to LGBT Health
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently launched a website dedicated to increasing knowledge about LGBT health disparities and concerns. The website includes resources about many significant health issues that affect the LGBT community, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental health, sexual health, tobacco, and violence/safety. The Coalition commends the Wisconsin DHS for its attention to LGBT health concerns and its work on creating and distributing resources for the LGBT community. To review the site, please check out www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lgbthealth/.
September 23, 2010, Six-Month Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
On September 23, 2010, the six-month anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), several new benefits will take effect. These benefits include expanding access to preventive care, a new Patient’s Bill of Rights, and a prohibition on the widespread insurance industry practice of canceling coverage for sick people in the absence of fraud. In conjunction with the six-month anniversary of the passage of the ACA, the Kaiser Family Foundation has launched their new healthcare reform site, the Health Reform Source. The site includes explanations of the basics of the ACA; in-depth analysis of policy issues in implementation; and quick and easy access to relevant data, studies, and developments. TheCoalition is encouraged by the quantity of relevant information and high-quality resources that are being made available to healthcare consumers, and we encourage LGBT health advocates to check out the resources available on websites such as www.healthcare.gov, the Coalition’s website at www.lgbthealth.net, and the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Health Reform Source at http://healthreform.kff.org/.
Advocacy Opportunity: Sign-on letter to oppose the Johanns Amendment
The Coalition was one of 235 organizations to sign on to a letter written by the Trust for America’s Health opposing the Johanns Amendment. The Amendment would virtually eliminate the $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Prevention is the backbone of public health and is a vital component of improving the health of the LGBT community. The Coalitionwould like to thank those of its members who have already signed on and invites others to help protect this investment in public health.
Sign on to the letter by contacting Richard Hamburg, deputy director of Trust for America’s Health, at rhamburg@TFAH.ORG. See a copy of the letter here.
The Coalition and others submit comments on hospital visitation rights
In a strong, coordinated effort with multiple partner organizations, the Coalition recently submitted comments regarding the proposed rule on hospital visitation rights. In addition, the New Beginning Initiative (a collaboration ofnational LGBT organizations of which the Coalition is a member), and the National Women’s Law Center in coordination with Health Care for America Now! (of which the Coalition is a member) also submitted comments, which were based on those of the Coalition. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (a coalition member) submitted a separate letter of comments. The Coalition commends all of these organizations for their support of LGBT health equity, and we look forward to working with them in the future. Please stay tuned for more information about the release and implementation of the final hospital visitation regulations.
National Coalition for LGBT Health comments
New Beginning Initiative (NBI) comments
National Women’s Law Center/Health Care for America Now! comments
GLMA Conference to take place this month
The 28th Annual Conference of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association will take place on September 22-25, 2010 in San Diego, California. The conference is sponsored in part by the National Coalition for LGBT Health. Breakout session topics will include LGBT families, aging, youth, clinical health, HIV/AIDS, behavioral health and substance abuse, policy/advocacy, public health, and many more. The Coalition’s senior policy associate, Kellan Baker, andCoalition board member Daniel Gould of Equality California will be co-leading a plenary titled “Advancing LGBT Health through Health Care Reform Implementation.” Hutson Inniss, the Coalition’s interim executive director, will be staffing the Coalition’s exhibit table.
For conference information, registration forms, and a preliminary schedule, please click here.
Lesbian Health Fund Now Accepting Research Grant Proposals
The Lesbian Health Fund (LHF) is now accepting proposals for research on lesbian health. Proposals for the fall grant cycle are due on October 15, 2010. LHF, a program of GLMA, is especially interested in applications that address the diversity of sexual minority women's communities and studies of health promotion and health improvement in lesbian and bisexual women, as well as studies that are potentially publishable and which are conducted as first steps toward larger grants. Grants range from $500 to $10,000. Proposals for fall grant cycle are due on October 15th. Since its founding, LHF has provided over $640,000 in grants to study lesbian health issues.
Coalition participates in teleconference on HIV/AIDS research and policy
On Thursday, August 19th, Queers for Economic Justice invited Kellan Baker, the Coalition’s senior policy associate, to speak about the Coalition’s work on LGBT-health related data collection as it relates to the most marginalized LGBT people. Other conference presenters included David Ernesto Munar of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, who discussed the National HIV/AIDS strategy, and Luiz Gutierrez-Mock of the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health (a Coalition member), who outlined various initiatives at the CDC that can help draw attention to poverty and HIV in the transgender community.