Each week LGBT HealthLink, a Program of CenterLink, brings you a round-up of some of the biggest LGBTQ wellness stories from the past week.
You can LISTEN to our Weekly Wellness Roundup podcast! Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/LGBTWellnessPodcast or where ever you podcast.
Something Exciting is Coming Next Week!
Next week, we will publish a series of three podcasts featuring an interview with Anthony Pho, a postdoctoral fellow with the PRIDE study and PRIDEnet at Stanford University. Stanford University School of Medicine is the LGBTQ Community Engagement Partner for the All of Us Research Program, which is an unprecedented federal program aiming to gather health information on 1 million diverse Americans to improve research and healthcare. We spoke with Anthony about a variety of topics, including why LGBT health data is so important, how privacy is protected through this initiative, and how they are working to overcome mistrust among many in the LGBT community of public health and healthcare institutions. Be sure to sign up for our podcast here so that you don’t miss this special series, and you can learn more about the All of Us research initiative at joinallofus.org.
What Do People Think About Anti-LGBT Laws?
The Washington Post published a detailed analysis of public opinion surrounding a variety of controversial laws and policies that some states are implementing to target LGBT people and their health. They found that polls differed wildly, depending on who was asking, who was being asked, and especially the wording of the questions. For example, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill was found to be popular when people were read the language of the bill, but less popular when it was explained to them, and even then, the complexities of the issue were not explored. Meanwhile, with respect to banning transgender athletes from competing on sports teams aligned with their gender, the population seemed fairly split on whether or not this should be prohibited. If nothing else, the results suggest that these types of laws are still not entirely clear to the general population, even as they advance in many states.
Academy Publishes Puberty Book
NPR reported on a new book published by the American Academy of Pediatrics that seeks to teach youth about puberty in a way that is inclusive of all gender identities. The book seeks to teach youth to embrace and understand changes, rather than fear them or feel that there is one particular form of “normal.” The authors often discussed body parts without ascribing them to a particular gender, in contrast with traditional puberty lessons that divide boys and girls – often leaving out transgender and nonbinary students. The authors say that accurate, expert, and inclusive advice for youth is needed now more than ever, given the aforementioned wave of anti-LGBT youth legislation nationwide.
Mental Health App for Youth Coming Soon
Also on the subject of LGBT youth, Q Chat Space announced a new mental health tool created with and for LGBT youth that will launch in June, just in time for Pride Month. A May 12th webinar will share more information for those hoping to utilize the app themselves or in populations they serve, while the website offers a sneak peak and a sign-up list to be notified when the app is available. The project is a collaboration with Hopeland and the It Gets Better Project.
Recognizing National Minority Health Month
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services celebrated April as National Minority Health Month with a campaign focused on advancing COVID-19 safety measures – especially vaccine booster shots – among minority communities, noting the disproportionate effect the pandemic has had on minority populations. Meanwhile, the CDC Foundation published a website on health equity to mark the occasion, including sharing resources and updates on how they are working to advance minority health.
Smoking Cessation Program for Queer Women
Health Promotion Practice published a study analyzing a tobacco cessation campaign for queer women in North Carolina. The initiative utilized digital data such as location and marketing profiles to target ads over a four year period. This included adapting messages to address concerns related to COVID-19 risks among people who smoked during the pandemic. The campaign was considered effective and a potential model to use elsewhere, given ongoing disparities in tobacco use among the LGBT community.
LGBT HealthLink, The Network for Health Equity 