If You Are Still Smoking with HIV – You Are Not Alone. Weekly Wellness Right Here.

Each week LGBT HealthLink, a Program of CenterLink, and researcher and blogger Corey Prachniak, bring you a round up of some of the biggest LGBT wellness stories from the past seven days. For more LGBT Wellness, visit a page dedicated to the topic here.

Smoking, Poverty, and HIV

Researchers found that queer men living with HIV were more likely to be persistent smokers over a two-year period if they were low-income, suggesting that smoking is related to intersectional disparities based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and economic position. Men whose partners were smokers were also more likely to be persistent smokers themselves.

Trans Survey Shows Serious Disparities

The National Center for Transgender Equality released a report based on its survey of 27,000 trans people, and found that in the past year 23% had put off healthcare out of fear of transphobia while 33% had at least one bad experience with providers. HIV remained a major problem in some subgroups, with almost 1 in 5 black trans women reporting that they are living with HIV. Meanwhile, 40% of all respondents had attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

HHS Highlights Health Advancements

The Department of Health and Human Services released a report highlighting its work to advance health equity for LGBT individuals, including implementing the nondiscrimination provision for trans individuals, creating a new Senior Adviser for LGBT Health, and naming LGBT individuals as an official priority population with NIH.

Preventing Cancer in Queer Patients

Researchers published a guide on preventive and primary care for LGB patients, and pointed out that while there is limited data on things such as cancer rates, the fact that queer folks have higher risks like smoking and depression should put providers on notice. They also note that lower rates of cancer screenings and HPV vaccination may increase the queer cancer burden.

Arkansas Court Permits Same-Sex Exclusion 

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the state Department of Health could continue denying same-sex partners from both getting listed on the birth certificates of their children, which are currently limited to a “mother” and a “father.” The case could now be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in a test of how far their previous marriage equality ruling should extend.

Protecting LGBT Folks from Discrimination

Relatedly, the Center for American Progress published a report on how advocates can continue to pursue equality across the country, and why it matters for improving the lives (and health) of queer individuals.