Each week HuffPost Queer Voices, in a partnership with blogger Scout, LGBT HealthLink and researcher Corey Prachniak, 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.
How Do Bisexual Students Publicly Identify?
A study of university students found that bisexual students were about twice as likely as gay and lesbian students to publicly identify with a different sexual orientation than their actual orientation. Students were also less likely to be out as bisexual if they had doubts about their sexuality or had an opposite-sex partner.
LGB Youth Face Widespread Health Disparities In Historic Study
The CDC released the first-ever national estimates of health risks facing LGB high school students, and the results are sobering. Queer students had elevated risks related to tobacco, drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence. 12.5 percent of LGB students had skipped at least one day of school in the past month out of safety concerns, which is 2.7 times the rate of heterosexual students, and a shocking 29.4 percent had attempted suicide within the past twelve months, 4.6 times more the rate of their peers.
Twice As Many LGB Youth Are Active Smokers
This CDC study shows that 19.2 percent of LGB youth are active smokers, nearly double the rate of heterosexual students. LGB youth were also twice as likely to have smoked a whole cigarette before their thirteenth birthday and were 65 percent more likely to have ever tried smoking. These disparities are even wider than have been found in many previous studies.
U.S. Young Adults Support Trans Healthcare ― With a Catch
A poll of adults aged 18-30 found more than 60 percent voice support for transgender healthcare access, with support highest among racial and ethnic minorities. The catch? When given a few details on what transgender care can entail, support dropped by wide margins.
LGBT Service Members Face Ongoing Health Risks
A new report says that despite the repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, LGBT military members face significant inequalities. These include limited healthcare for transgender individuals, a lack of culturally-competent mental health services, and higher rates of depression and alcohol use.
Making Medicaid Work for LGBT Individuals
The Center for American Progress released a report on how to improve LGBT care for those covered by Medicaid, the country’s safety net insurance program. Proposals include requiring hospitals who accept Medicaid to not discriminate and removing transgender care exclusions.