Each week HuffPost Gay Voices, in a partnership with bloggers Liz Margolies and Scout, 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
New Resource for LGBT Cultural Competency Trainings
Tiina & Geir via Getty Images
The National LGBT Cancer Network in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health has just released a first of its kind best practice manual to help trainers building or delivering LGBT cultural competency trainings. Read more about it here: Wild Times in LGBT Cultural Competency Trainings.
2
Missouri Coalition Pushes State to National Leadership on LGBT Health
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Last week HRC released their annual Healthcare Equality Index, a ranking of welcoming hospitals all across the nation. The big news this year is how Missouri shot up from 37th to 6th place in the nation after local advocates targeted hospitals for change, read more about it and learn how to replicate it here.
3
Compelling Mainstream Media Op-Ed: How Lack of Marriage Hurts Our Health
Photo by Bhaskar Dutta via Getty Images
The Orlando Sentinal published an op-ed this week about the sad circumstances of Liz Molina, currently in the end-stages of cervical cancer and poised to die without seeing her 13-year-old-daughter (in the custody of her disapproving family) or with any legal ties to the unborn son her partner is carrying. We agree with the author: “this intolerance is wearing thin.”
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4
LBQ Women 2.7 Times Less Likely to Have Pap Smear
Dana Neely via Getty Images
A new study from Australia shows LBQ women are less likely to have pap smears; those who had never slept with a man were 2.7 times less likely to have pap smears. Medical experts warn this could leave them at higher risk for cervical cancer. Note just last week we reported over ⅓ of FTM trans guys were not up to date on their cervical cancer screenings.
5
State Department Allows Employee Health Insurance to Cover Transgender Services
David J. Rogowski, AOL
Read the whole Washington Post story about it, but special praise to Secretary of State John F. Kerry for what we’re going to name as our quote of the week: “It’s about fairness and respect for our employees, but it’s also about showing the world we mean what we say and say what we mean. It’s tough to tell other countries to provide equal opportunity if we’re not living that out ourselves.”
6
Biases Discourage LGBT Scientists from Coming Out
Adam Gault via Getty Images
There’s an excellent new article this week exploring how science may be a haven for some LGBT scientists but many fear coming out. Since it’s overwhelmingly openly LGBT scientists who drive our health research and intervention science, this negative climate has a stronger impact on all our health than we may realize.
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7
#1 Factor for Youth Avoiding Unsafe Sex? Talking to Parents
Paul Bradbury via Getty Images
In a new study by Rutgers University researchers, close family connections and positive dialog emerged as the number one factor associated with a reduction in unsafe sex practices and other risky behaviors. Once again, being welcoming to your gay kids could save their lives.
8
American Indian & Alaskan Native LGB Youth Experience High Rates of Abuse
Chris Stein via Getty Images
A new study explored the extremely high rates of alcohol abuse by a sample of urban American Indians and Alaskan Natives, finding between 60-70% of the drinking youth reported physical neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse.