Are we at the tipping point in LGBT Health?

Published by

Emilia Dunham, MPP, MBA

April 9, 2011

by Emilia Dunham

Reporting from the Trans Health Summit in San Francisco

We all know that in our community’s history has experienced severe health disparities compared to the general population. Rob Garofalo of Chicago’s Howard Brown University wraps up the Summit with a summary of the LGBT IOM Health Report and what this could mean for LGBT populations. Rob was on the committee developing this report.

With all these incredibly supportive reports and recommendations to include LGBT populations, could this mean that these amazing recommendations could still be implemented and have a tremendous ripple effect to heal the health wounds in this community with Health People 2020 and now the LGBT IOM Health Report.

So what is changing?

HHS is including gender identity in its non-discrimination plan, hospital visitation policy and approach to including LGBT persons in all policy decisions
AMA’s LGBT Advisory Panel, non-discrimination policy, support of DADT, recommendations to include LGBT healthcare
HRC and other organizations are holding organizations, hospitals and insurers accountable to fully include LGBT populations.
There are more RFAs and research including, and specific, to LGBT populations.
WPATH is revising its standards of transgender health care

We are coming out of a dark place in LGBT health, but with the number of organizations (government, local, private, etc) coming on board to support LGBT inclusive health policies, research and care is considerable.

But what do you think?

4 responses to “Are we at the tipping point in LGBT Health?”

Lincoln

April 15, 2011

I don’t think we’re quite at the tipping point yet. More awareness of LGBT health issues at the top (policy/research/etc) is a good thing. But these recs and policies have yet to fully reach down to the ground level. Especially in places where trans populations are dependant on medical care in low income clinic settings.

There’s still a long way to go when it comes to actual practice.

Reply
1. The Network for LGBT Health Equity
  
  April 17, 2011
  
  Thanks for response Lincoln. There are many recommendations all over but we wont know if this will trickle down to our whole community in a meaningful way including POC, low-income and rural folks.
  
  Emilia
  
  Reply
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