Equality Can Help LGBT Health
In mid- 2009, MassEquality sent a survey to one individual in each of the 38,210 households on its mailing list to capture the participant sample possible, providing the largest “snapshot” ever taken of the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. Health data were collected through an online questionnaire developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) in consultation with the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School, a think tank dedicated to LGBT issuesA follow‐up email went out halfway through the data collection period. The online survey was completed by 1,598 individuals in a period just over one week, yielding a response rate of 4.2%. Among the findings:
• Among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, the health of bisexual and transgender people is somewhat worse than their heterosexual and non-transgender counterparts, respectively.
• The health of lesbian, gay, people is comparable to that of heterosexual respondents. However, lesbians were less likely to have routine pap tests compared with their heterosexual female counterparts.
• Transgender persons had worse outcomes with respect to self‐reported health, disability status, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, and lifetime violence victimization.
• Bisexual respondents how worse outcomes with respect to self‐reported health, disability status, suicide ideation, as well as lower rates of mammography for bisexual women compared with their heterosexual female counterparts.
• Legally married same‐sex couples were more likely to obtain health insurance through their spouse’s employer than non‐legally same sex couples.
This research validates the research on other minority populations that associates stigma and other social determinants with poor health outcomes. The health disparities faced by minority groups are all too common. Increasingly, there are more theories regarding the factors that lead to health disparities. Research increasingly points to a range of social inequities including income, access to health care or insurance, and housing as factors that impact everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender. However, there are theories specific to minority groups that add additional factors based on minority status.
Recent changes, including marriage equality, may be helping to reduce disparities for lesbians and gay men, possibly by providing greater access to health insurance. However, transgender persons still face major barriers with respect to employment nondiscrimination, public accommodations and general social acceptance. This report finds transgender persons reporting the highest level of health disparities. See http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/commissioner/lgbt_health_report.pdf
One big hit is when it comes to Gay Men and Women with Diabetes - Could the medical community be overlooking 2.5 million people who have diabetes? Currently, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8 percent of the population, have diabetes. Although an estimated 17.9 million of them have been diagnosed, 5.7 million (nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease. If lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people comprise 10 percent of the U.S. population, then 10 percent of people with diabetes are part of the LGBT community-about 2.5 million people. (Another reason to participate in the 2010 census.)
Lack of equality has always been a problem as we all know, but when it comes to specific stories we realize just how hard we must fight, because our lack of rights detrimentaly impact every aspect of our lives. When Jim went to a local emergency room for kidney stones, he experienced an episode of hypoglycemia. While he was trying to get a nurse’s attention to explain what was happening, his blood sugar sank to a dangerous 19 mg/dL and he began to have a seizure. The emergency staff rushed to raise his blood sugar and admit him to the intensive care unit, but no one bothered to tell his spouse, John, who was scared and confused. Yet another example of the loneliness of marriage for a gay couple in the US.
“ Diabetes is a stress in any relationship and when you combine that with the added stresses of life as a lesbian or a gay man-whether you are open about it or not-there is a great need for LGBT people with diabetes and the partners who support them to receive services and information geared to their unique needs, “ Said John from DANG Foundation.
With the help available in the myriad of articles and unique content provided by pre-eminent sites like the Diabetes Health Website, and an increased awareness of one’s right to fight…. my message is fight for your rights and fight for your health…and fight for your health so you can fight for your rights.
Blog by Melanie Nathan
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LevStrauss on November 29, 2009 at 8:12 PMI wasn’t actually considering the Colts D as a problem for the Titans, but Manning…he seems to always find a way. But I also think they are due a loss, so a loss to the Titans would be extra sweet.
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batterup on November 29, 2009 at 6:38 PMHey–good Gators think alike! Either way, AL/FL will be a great game. I actually am feeling better about the Gators; solid win again FSU and Arkansas did very well against LSU and MS State against Ole Miss.
I couldn’t agree more on UT. The Big 12 just isn’t that great. I would put the ACC and Big 12 as above the same and look what happened to the ACC over the weekend. It’d be a travesty if Colt McCoy gets the Heisman. Spikes et al will destroy UT; TCU will at least be interesting to watch.
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I wasn’t actually considering the Colts D as a problem for the Titans, but Manning…he seems to always find a way. But I also think they are due a loss, so a loss to the Titans would be extra sweet.
ladyingray on November 29, 2009 at 8:17 PMThe Colts D is a problem for the Colts, maybe I wasn’t clear. I can’t wait to see the moneyline for the game because this matchup is similar to the Colts when they used to play Jacksonville a few years ago and JAX had their number because Jackson and Drew-Jones would run over them at will, then throw Vince Young into the mix and it could get really ugly. I would not want to be a Fantasy Team that plays against CJ next week. Colts will not be undefeated after next week.
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I see the Hockalug ref crew is already intent on rigging this game.
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Go Ravens! Yeah!
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I’m no Ravens fan (putting it mildly) but go see “The Blind Side” worth the price of admission
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OHHHH! VOMIT! “United We Serve is supported by the NFL” commercial featuring Drew Brees tossing one to the One. Go to hell you socialist bastards.
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What a dilemma! I will never root for the Steelers. But my man, former Duck Dennis Dixon is QBing. Is there a way to root FOR Dixon yet hope the Steelers lose?
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Mallard T. Drake on November 29, 2009 at 10:04 PMOh yeah, I do it all the time for the Cowboys’ Jason Whitten. I hate the Cowboys with bone deep passion, but I always want Jason Whitten to have a great day – he’s from my area and he is a great guy…gives back to this community and doesn’t forget where he is from.
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Meanwhile, the Vikings keep cruising with Brett Favre looking like the MVP & with a defense that held Chicago to 2 yards total offense in the 2nd half.
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Who Dey, baby. Bengals win the 2nd Battle of Ohio this year and sweep the AFC North. The Browns aren’t looking so hot, but the Bengals need to get some more offense going if they hope to defeat Minnesota (a long shot) or San Diego (doable but very tough) and do any damage in the postseason.
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Titans v. Colts ought to be really interesting next week. Today’s game against the Cardinals was GOTY material so far. 4 seconds on the clock, 4th and goal, needing a touchdown, Vince Young throws a dart to a rookie. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was really wrong about Young after last year’s meltdown. I figured he would never play another down in the NFL barring season-ending injury to the starting QB.
Hat’s off to you, Vince! You are the real deal.
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I, too, was annoyed by that Obama-worshipping NFL ad. Do they really think the average NFL fan likes Obama?
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Now a dilemma – I HATE the Patriots (like all the Boston teams) but they are playing against Drew Brees and the Saints Monday night. Drew Brees just appeared in that disgusting commercial for socialism, tossing a pass to Teh Won on the White House lawn, in all its fawning glory. How can I hate anyone more than the Patriots? I think I just found out. GO NEW ENGLAND!!!!
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I noticed a couple of Ed’s Steelers in that ad, too.
(Like I need a reason to hate the Steelers more.)
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Now a dilemma – I HATE the Patriots (like all the Boston teams) but they are playing against Drew Brees and the Saints Monday night. Drew Brees just appeared in that disgusting commercial for socialism, tossing a pass to Teh Won on the White House lawn, in all its fawning glory. How can I hate anyone more than the Patriots? I think I just found out. GO NEW ENGLAND!!!!
Fishoutofwater on November 29, 2009 at 10:26 PMThat is something that is beyond me. Brees is totally supportive of the military at Gitmo and in the Middle East and visits them when he can. He also is very tight with the Manning family in New Orleans who are far from being liberal, much less leftist.
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Wow, an obvious Steeler interference not called . . . of course.
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I never root for the Steelers, living in Dallas and all, but they don’t have a lying accessory to murder on their team, so GO STEELERS!!!
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OHHHH! VOMIT! “United We Serve is supported by the NFL” commercial featuring Drew Brees tossing one to the One. Go to hell you socialist bastards.
Fishoutofwater on November 29, 2009 at 10:01 PMYou’re surprised after the railroad of Rush by the no fun league?
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Geez, where would the Steelers be without these phantom tripping calls? The 12th man tried but couldn’t invent a penalty on fourth down.
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Tomorrow is opening day of deer season in PA. Looks like there will be lots of tired hunters in the woods in the morning.
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Yessssssssss!
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I’m going to stay a true believer and predict the Ravens D wins the game for Baltimore and puts the Steelers in a rock and a hard place, 16-12.FIFY
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Great job, Dixon! The Steel Curtain gave up the lead. Ray Rice was awesome. Go, Ducks in this Thursday’s Civil War!
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LevStrauss on November 29, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Where would these threads be without the cussing of the refs whne baby’s game doesn’t go like baby wants it to go?
FontanaConservative on November 30, 2009 at 12:02 AM
That was way out on a limb. A top ten ranked defense beating a third string QB?
WannabeAnglican on November 29, 2009 at 10:42 PM
The real almighty is gonna make dubious calls in the next life and the whole Anglican and Episocopal approach is gonna look even more fey than they do around here.
Congrats to the Ravens.
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That is something that is beyond me. Brees is totally supportive of the military at Gitmo and in the Middle East and visits them when he can. He also is very tight with the Manning family in New Orleans who are far from being liberal, much less leftist.
Kermit on November 29, 2009 at 10:40 PMI’m pretty sure Brees was NOT happy being “asked” by the NFL to appear in an ad with Barry. Hell, I wonder if he even KNEW Barry was going to be in the ad, since there did seem to be a lot of green-screen effects going on. I’m sure he’s taking extra showers to wash off the humiliation he is feeling.
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IlikedAUH20 on November 30, 2009 at 12:34 AM
And what would any thread be without a jerk being a jerk?
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Ravens and Steelers both have a couple of “should-wins” coming up before their rematch in Pittsburgh. How they each handle those may be as important to their respective playoff hopes as the game against each other. Would someone please tell Rothlis…whatever how stupid he looks with his hat on backwards. How demoralized is Houston after they had the Colts on the ropes and couldn’t put them away? Go Colts!
If the Pats have any pride left, they will be out for blood tonight. I’ll go out on a limb and say it could be worth watching.
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It seems no one wants that last AFC wild card. I wonder who gets it anyway.
I still wouldn’t be shocked if it’s the Steelers.
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The Vikings all the way to the Super Bowl.
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Underestimating the Pats eh? Look at their last few games… they’re starting to play like the ol’ Pats. Yes they lost to the Colts but look how much they dominated them the first half. Biggest thing I see they need to work on is on the ‘D’ and you bet that Belichick has been whipping them since that loss(as well as himself for that bad call).
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The Vikings all the way to the Super Bowl.
Timber Wolf on November 30, 2009 at 3:44 PMThey may have their work cut out for them, as New Orleans looks like they have the lead for home field thru the playoffs. That hasn’t hurt the Vikes in the past, as they moidered the Who-Dats in 1988 in the Saints’ very first playoff game in team history (at the Dome), and they have since knocked the Saints out of the playoffs at least once. But I have been a Saints fan for almost as long as I have been a New England fan (since the late 1960s) and this is the best Saints team I have ever experienced. The coach-QB symbiosis is special.
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