By Gustavo Torrez
Program Manager
*Call to Action* HHS Regional LGBT Listening Sessions
As some of you may know, a couple months ago there was a listening sessions about LGBT health held in Washington, DC. In an effort to expand on that original listening session, HHS has been conducting LGBT listening sessions throughout the country to gather input and feedback on steps that HHS can take to improve the health and well-being of LGBT communities. HHS has created a document, RECOMMENDED ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LGBT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING that we urge you to review. As you know there have been opportunities to provide written input in the past as well as opportunities to participate in calls around similar issues, but now there is an opportunity to show your face and let your voice be heard in person. Not sure what to say? Talk about LGBT Cultural Competency in Funding… why it is important to be inclusive… We have two posts that you can use as a point of reference. Both the posts below are from a similar listening session held a few months ago in DC:
LGBT Cultural Competency in Funding
Letter to Secty Sebelius: Please Address LGBT Exclusion from Funding Streams
So now is the time to act! The Next listening session will take place in Atlanta. Take this opportunity to show up and let your voice be heard.
Plan on attending? We can send you print copies of the LGBT cultural Competency in Funding… Just email us at lgbthealthequity@gmail.com and we will get them out to you ASAP.
RSVP for your city’s Listening session by clicking the city below:
Atlanta, GA Tuesday, December 20, 2011 1:00pm U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth St SW, 2nd Floor Atlanta, GA 30303Previous Sessions took place in the following cities:
Houston, TX
Milwaukee, WI
Phoenix, AZ
Philadelphia, PA
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Denver, CO
Hartford, CT
Kansas City, MO
Background From HHS Regarding the Listening Sessions:
On behalf of Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), thank you for your continued efforts to improve the health and well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) populations. As you may know, last year, the President issued a Memorandum directing Secretary Sebelius to make recommendations with respect to health and human services issues that affect LGBT individuals and their families. On April 1, 2011, HHS released these recommendations and they are attached here for your reference.
As we are well on our way to implementing the set of 2011 recommendations, our work on developing a set of 2012 recommendations is underway. To that end, we invite you to provide input on potential recommendations during a listening session with HHS officials.
LGBT HealthLink, The Network for Health Equity 