LGBT HealthLink, a program of CenterLink, is a community-driven network of experts and professionals enhancing LGBT health by reducing tobacco-, cancer-, and other health-disparities within our communities. We are one of eight CDC-funded cancer and tobacco disparity networks. We link people and information to promote adoption of best practices in health departments and community organization to reduce LGBT cancer and tobacco disparities.
Mission:
A grassroots Network: Igniting and channeling passion through facilitating effective collaboration, communication, mobilization and advocacy, and public policy to create more socially just and healthier communities for LGBTQ people.
Top reasons why Tobacco Control in the LGBT community is important:
- Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people have been targeted by the Tobacco Industry.
- Interventions to counter tobacco use are not always culturally tailored for the LGBT communities.
- The LGBTQ communities smoke at rates 40%-almost 200% higher than the general population.
- It is the number one public health threat to the LGBT community!
- Tobacco control is the cutting edge social justice issue!
The Network is comprised of wonderful staff:
Dr. Regina Washington, DrPH, Program Director
Ana Machado, Project Administrator
Anthony Campo, Education, Training, and Outreach Manager
Donna Solomon-Carter, Social Media and Project Specialist
LGBT HealthLink, The Network for Health Equity 
Thank you for your work and the wealth of information you post on this blog on a weekly basis. Your diligent efforts have helped to forge the begining of a conversation between the Joint Commission (LGBT Initiative) and Rainbow Access Initiative (RAI) as we move ahead with our “My (LGBTQ) Health Care Story Matters” personal video stories project. Please visit our website for more info on this project at http://www.rainbowaccess.org or my blog at https://rai-health.org Please include my email to your listserve for updated postings. Thank you…thank you. Chad Putman, LMSW, Board President, RAI, Inc.