From California to Canada – #LGBTWellness Roundup

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.

Health of Black LGBT Californians

The California Health Care Foundation shared highlights from the Listening to Black Californians report, which found that most Black California residents had health coverage (90%) and a regular provider (83%). Nevertheless, 31% said they had experienced poor treatment by a provider – and that number jumped to 43% among LGBT Black individuals. LGBT Black individuals were also more likely to say that they avoided care because of concern that they would be treated poorly, with more than four in 10 (41%) indicating this concern.

Bi Canadians Earn Less, Face Food Insecurity

The Canadian government published new data finding significant income disparities among LGB individuals. Overall, bisexual inidividuals made the least per year ($39,200 Canadian dollars) compared with gay and lesbian individuals ($50,100) and heterosexual individuals ($55,000). Breaking things down by gender, while lesbian and straight women made about the same, heterosexual men made about $10,000 more per year than gay men, and bisexual men and women trailed all other groups. Sadly, but not surprisingly, one impact of this difference was that bisexual individuals were the most likely to live in households facing food insecurity. 

Disability More Likely for Trans Folks

Futurity reported that transgender individuals have a 27% chance of having at least one disability by the age of 20, and a 39% chance of having the same by age 55, which is about twice the rate of cisgender individuals. The findings come from a study published in Health Affairs, which used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which has given states the option to collect gender identity and sexual orientation data since 2014. The study’s author explained that it reinforces the need for access to transgender-inclusive healthcare. 

Jon Stewart Takes On Anti-trans Laws

Human Rights Campaign shared a segment produced by Jon Stewart addressing misinformation being spread about transgender youth, as many policymakers seek to limit their access to necessary care. Stewart points out that anti-transgender legislation has incrased 800% since 2018, and spoke to parents of trans youth who have supported them on their journey – only to now be the target of bills that are not science-based. The entire episode is available to stream for free. 

Ask Me Anything – Including About STIs

WebMD explored how and why Reddit became a go-to spot for individuals to learn about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), an option they say may be especially popular for LGBT individuals given the discrimination the community can face in accessing care through traditional avenues. The American Sexual Health Association recently began hosting conversations on Reddit to learn more about what people want to know and to test its STI public awareness campaign. While many experts support the idea, they also cautioned that seeking advice online is not a replacement for getting tested, especially to detect issues that are asymptomatic.

LGBT Businesses Received Less COVID-19 Aid

USA Today reported that small businesses owned by LGBT individuals were less likely to receive COVID-19 relief funding, even though they were more likely than others to have applied for such assistance. The findings are part of a report published by Movement Advancement Project that also found that LGBT-owned businesses were more negatively impacted overall by the pandemic, and also have a harder time getting loans in general, an issue only exacerbated by the disparity in COVID-19 relief.