The Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective wants to remind everyone that the 8th National LGBT Health Awareness week is March 28 – April 3.  This year’s focus is to raise awareness of the significant health issues and disparities faced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender(LGBT) population.

Sponsored by the National Coalition for LGBT Health, this week spotlights vital issues of our community:

• Gaps in current knowledge regarding LGBT health status, health risks, health disparities, and whether LGBT people have access to high-quality health care that takes all aspects of their lives into account
• The importance of family and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity differences on the mental health and personal safety of LGBT people
• The need for research at the intersections of disparity factors such as race, ethnicity, age, geography, sexual orientation and gender identity to determine how overlapping disparities effect the health of LGBT people
• The effects of social determinants and cultural factors, including stigma, discrimination, and violence, on the physical and mental health of LGBT people
• The importance of counting the LGBT community by including questions about gender identity and sexual orientation on federal and state health surveys

An Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee is preparing the federal government’s first report on LGBT health and health disparities. The report will assess current scientific knowledge regarding the health of LGBT people, identify research gaps and opportunities related to LGBT health, and outline a research agenda that will assist the government in enhancing its research efforts in this area. Click here for more information.

The Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective reminds everyone these are concerns for EVERYBODY and affect all people.  The Health Collective is the largest organization devoted to the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities in Connecticut.  If you have health questions or concerns, contact Donna Shubrooks at (860)278-4163 x13 or donnas@hglhc.org.  Our Web site is www.hglhc.org.

Tags: 2010, 37-05, EARLY MARCH