CURRENT EFFORTS PRO LGBTT HEALTH IN PUERTO RICO

by Juan Carlos Vega, MLS.  

Reporting for the Citizens’ Alliance Pro LGBTTA Health of Puerto Rico, the National Latino Tobacco Control Network, and the Network for LGBT Health Equity.  Blogging from a TRANSforma Gathering of about 20 Trans women and a dozen LGBTTA researchers engaging in open conversation in an apartment in Santurce, a section of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Local LGBTT community advocates and researchers continue to implement innovative strategies and research efforts to improve the health of LGBTT communities in Puerto Rico.  Here are some highlight of current and future local efforts.

The Committee for LGBT Issues of the Psychology Association of Puerto Rico, just published Volume 3, Number 1, 2012 issue of their electronic Bulletin, which include articles written by researchers and students alike on issues like stigma and bisexuality.  The articles, written in Spanish, include:

• Between the street and the home: ambiguity and contradiction among Dominican sexual workers serving the tourist community by Mark B. Padilla, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan.
• Diversity Within Diversity: a brief discussion about the complexity regarding bisexuality by Caleb Esteban-Reyes, B.A., Student Committee Member
• Law vs. Politics: A Dichotomy presented to the Anti-Discrimination Committee of the U.S. Department of Justice in 2011 by Sophia Isabel Marrero, TRANSforma Consultant
• Structural Violence as a Social Determinant of Health: Its Effects on Trans Individuals presented to the Committee for LGBT Issues of the Psychology Association of Puerto Rico during its 58th Convention in Michigan in 2011 by Sheilla Rodríguez Madera, Ph.D.

To see the full E-Bulletin click here: Diversidad E-Bulletin Vol 3 Num 1.  For more information on the Committee for LGBT Issues of the Psychology Association of Puerto Rico contact José A. Toro (jose.toro4@upr.edu) or Sheilla Rodríguez Madera (sheilla.rodriguez@upr.edu)

The TRANSforma Research Project, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, looks into the social context of transgender and transsexual individuals in Puerto Rico. An interdisciplinary team, closely collaborating with the local Trans community, looks to explore at the influences of these social contexts and its health impact in body modification practices.  The project uses various methods to compile data in local Trans communities, including ethnographic observations within a social context, qualitative interviews, and a survey. For more information call (787) 248-1986.  They need condom and lub donations for outreach efforts!

Members of the Citizens’ Alliance Pro LGBTT Health of Puerto Rico are going to New Orleans, Louisiana for the National Latino Tobacco Control Network Face-to-Face Meeting on April 16, 2012.  Along with other CDC National Networks, we will be participating in the Promising Practices to Eliminate Tobacco-Related Disparities: The Power of Communities Conference this upcoming April 17-18, 2012.  Dra. Elba Diaz-Toro from the Medical Science Campus at the University of Puerto Rico and this blogger will be available on Tuesday, April 17, 4:15pm – 5:00pm and Wednesday, April 18, 8:00am – 8:45am to answer all your questions related to the Poster Presentation titled Community Organizing and Leadership Building in Puerto Rico Pro LGBTT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual & Transgender) Health.  We look forward to share success stories and strategies with other CDC-funded National Networks who are gathering in New Orleans.  For all the details about the conference visit: http://healthedcouncil.org/promisingpractices_2012.html

For more information on the Citizens’ Alliance Pro LGBTT Health of Puerto Rico efforts and collaborations visit: http://saludlgbttpr.webs.com/

SAVE THE DATE  |  June 29-30, 2012  |  Location in Puerto Rico to be determined!

2nd LGBTT Health Summit of Puerto Rico: the Stigma and the Health Impact in Our Communities.  Visit http://saludlgbttpr.webs.com/ for the most up to date information.