Each week HuffPost Gay Voices, in a partnership with blogger Scout, LGBT HealthLink and researcher Michael G. Bare, brings you a round up of some of the biggest LGBT wellness stories from the past seven days. For more LGBT Wellness visit our page dedicated to the topic here.
1
HIV Prevention
BigFive Images via Getty Images
A national bathhouse chain is now offering a free HIV testing kits via vending machine. New research has shown that gay and bi men in regions that are more homophobic have limited access to HIV prevention information.
2
Aetna To Cover Gender Confirmation Surgery!
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Aetna has announced they will cover gender transition benefits for federal workers on their health plans, and will soon roll out the same coverage to consumer plans as well.
3
Fed LGBT Health Update
HHS
The Department of Health and Human Services has relaunched their LGBT Health web portal and released their annual report on advancements in LGBT health -- including highlighting CDC’s inclusion of a gay ad in last year’s Tips from Former Smokers campaign.
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4
Trans Awareness Month
Fenway Focus
As we start Trans Awareness Month, a carrot to Scotland trans advocates who are pushing for legal recognition of a third gender category and to Fenway Health for their great infographic showing 65 percent of trans people experienced discrimination in the last year. Conversely, a stick to right-wing Virginia Mass Resistance who’s trying to out Virginia’s top doctor as trans -- we think you misunderstood the intent of trans awareness month.
5
Student Stigma Lowers Grades
Jamie Grill via Getty Images
New research demonstrates the link between academic achievement among LGBT students and the climate of acceptance on high school campuses. Kudos to Louisiana State University; their new program QROMA is offering support and community for queer students of color.
6
¾ of Lesbian & Bi Women Want Children
Michael Hall via Getty Images
Data from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers found ¾ of lesbian and bi women wanted children. While heterosexual barriers to having children were often biomedical, lesbian/bi barriers were often societal.
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7
Lesbian and Bisexual Black Health Disparities
Sally Anscombe via Getty Images
New research shows African American non-Hispanic lesbians and bisexual women have lower fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity levels, higher body mass index and history of diabetes/hypertension as compared to their white counterparts. Researchers found stigma and internalized sexism were partly to blame.