Melanie Nathan; 8-18-10

Almost 50 at the time, back in In 2007 tennis great Martina Navratilova signed with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) as the group’s Health & Fitness ambassador.  Navratilova continues in this capacity, where she makes appearances at AARP events and offers online tips for AARP members on things like diet and fitness for the senior (that word?) crowd.

Navratilova, has won 59 grand slam tennis titles (the last one six weeks shy of her 50th birthday). Martina has been named “Tour Player of the Year” by the Women’s Tennis Association, “Female Athlete of the Year” by the Associated Press, and one of the “Top 40 Athletes of All Time” by Sports Illustrated.

“Because I’m in my 50s, I’m very concerned about flexibility. I know how much it helps me recover from tough matches or workouts and prepare for exercise the next day. And there are other benefits, too. Staying flexible can help you prevent injury, as well as avoid muscle knots and tightness brought on by daily activities. It improves your posture, reduces stress, and generally keeps your body feeling youthful and agile.” asserts Martina on site in one of many articles available to non members as well.

Here is a Video from the AARP website showcasing an example of the health and fitness advice offered
by the now over fifty ambassador.

http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-08-2010/martina_stretching.html

Navratilova will be at the AARP Orlando@50+ in Orlando, FL: September 30 – October 2, which thousands of AARP members and their friends are expected to attend

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• CNN to Air Martina Navratilova Documentary (lezgetreal.com)
• Martina Navratilova Kicks Ass at Wimbledon Weeks After Radiation Therapy (lezgetreal.com)
• Navratilova’s inspiring fight with cancer (cnn.com)
• Martina Navratilova’s busy life: Senior doubles in Paris, TV commentating, and radiation therapy for cancer (pinkbananaworld.com)
• How much does it pay to be married to Martina Navratilova? Apparently about $3 million (pinkbananaworld.com)

On August 21, 2010, Fifty Master Level Swimmers will plunge into the Great South Bay to swim from Sayville to Fire Island Pines,   to raise funds to benefit the Stonewall Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Those sponsoring the swimmers and friends from all walks of life will be on hand to cheer them on as they make their way through the 5 K open water route, and to congratulate them as they emerge at the Swim’s endpoint in The Pines in the 2^nd Annual Stonewall Swim.

“The inspiration for many of us lies in combining our passion for swimming and sport with our desire to benefit a group like Stonewall that provides grants to so many LGBT community organizations,” said Bradley Matthews, a Stonewall Swim participant and donor.

Last year, the Stonewall Swim raised $100,000 for the Foundation’s vital work.  This year, the swimmers and organizers hope to double their fundraising effort.

“The Stonewall Community Foundation is  committed first and foremost to building community and giving all who care about strengthening the LGBT community a chance to contribute to that goal,” said Paula Ettelbrick, Stonewall’s Executive Director.

The Swim will start at 9:00 am, with the first swimmers reaching The Pines around noon.

About the Stonewall Community Foundation

Since inception in 1990, the Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in grants to more than 400 organizations.

Stonewall Community Foundation develops leadership in the NYC LGBTQ community and works with like-minded donors to fund and incubate emerging organizations serving an evolving set of issues.  The Foundation’s Stonewall Institute formally trains organizations and key individuals on mission critical skills for running and growing their organizations and offers programs to inspire community members to personal and financial commitments to organizations.  Our Stonewall Quarter Share engages and develops the largest young donor group training them on community needs and helping them learn about grantmaking and leadership development and Stonewall Out in Front will annually develop 40 next generation board leaders for the movement.

The following individuals are available for interviews about The Stonewall Community Foundation, Stonewall Swim 2010 and the LGBTQ community.

Related articles by Zemanta

• We were there: Stonewall Honors 2009 (timeoutny.com)

One Tree Hill star and Chad Michael Murry ex Sophia Bush is boycotting Urban Outfitters. Bush is upset over a shirt the company is selling that says “Eat Less,” the actress is outraged that they would promote anorexia so blatantly. Bush wrote an open letter to the store to raise awareness of the problem.

“I have been a supporter of your store for many years, but now I’m through.”

“I am fortunate enough to star on a wonderful TV show called One Tree Hill. I play a fashion designer named Brooke Davis, who started a campaign on the show called “Zero Is Not A Size” and the outpouring of love and gratitude that came my way from girls and women ALL OVER THE WORLD (sic) who have body image issues brought me to tears.”

“To promote starvation? To promote anorexia, which leads to heart disease, bone density loss, and a slew of other health problems, not least of all psychological issues that NEVER go away? Shame on you. I will no longer be shopping at your stores. And I will encourage the tens of thousands of female supporters I have to do the same. I have fought to boycott BP. I never imagined I would also be boycotting affordable fashion.”

“You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organisation that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted ‘yes’ on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It’s like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better.”

“I sincerely hope that next time you decide that making fun of serious issues is comedic, or ’snarky in a cool way’, that you re-think your decision.”

[Source]

Due to the controversy, Urban Outfitters has removed the shirt from their website and hopefully, from their stores. This is not the first time Bush has shown her socially responsible side, she recently visited the Gulf Coast to survey the damage done by the BP Oil Spill and help raise awareness and donations to the clean up efforts. How awesome is she? I’m totally down to boycott Urban Outfitters. I had no plans to wear a lace bra top or tee shirts with ironic sentiments on it this summer anyway

Related articles by Zemanta

• E! Reality Star Says “Lindsay was Crying in Jail” (lezgetreal.com)
• Kylie Minogue Loves Logo (lezgetreal.com)
• Glee to take on Rocky Horror Picture Show (lezgetreal.com)
• Did Lori Michaels Admit to Dating Real Housewives of NJ Star, Danielle Staub? (lezgetreal.com)
• Melissa Etheridge Says: Tammy Used the Kids as Pawns (lezgetreal.com)
• Real Housewives Star Kelly Killoren Bensimon Talks to Out (lezgetreal.com)
• Elton John is Down with Arizona Xenophobia (lezgetreal.com)
• Fergie Ferg Wants Marriage Equality (lezgetreal.com)

4-20-10- Melanie Nathan; The Women’s Conference® community is a global network of women who gather every year at the nation’s premier forum for women, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. For two full days, more than 100 internationally-acclaimed leaders, visionaries, authors, journalists and artists come together with more than 25,000 women from all walks of life to be educated, inspired and empowered to be Architects of Change in their own lives, within their communities and around the world.

Beyond the annual event, The Women’s Conference community gathers daily online at www.WomensConference.org and throughout the year at events that serve, support and strengthen the larger community. The mission of The Women’s Conference is to create Architects of Change – people who see a problem and seek to create the solution, be it in their homes, their communities, their states or the world.

The Women’s Conference has become a “must attend” transformational event and full day passes sell out in record-breaking time each year. In 2009, tickets sold out in less than two hours. In response to this surging popularity and demand, The Conference expanded the event to two full days with the addition of A Day of Transformation and Night at The Village.

May 14-16:      I Can Do It! San Diego Conference

The Mind, Body & Soul Retreat featuring dozens of your favorite speakers including Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Cheryl Richardson, Joan Z. Borysenko, Ph.D., Louise L. Hay, and many more workshops ranging from health to spirituality.

• San Diego Convention Center

For more information visit www.icandoit.net or call 800-654-5126

June 9:     The Women’s Conference Press Announcement

Two weeks prior to registration, The Women’s Conference 2010 announces conference events, speakers & ticket information. Information will be available at www.womensconference.org.

June 23:    The Women’s Conference 2010 Online Ticket Registration

(Please note: Date is subject to change.)

To learn more about The Women’s Conference 2010, click HERE.

**Check out The Great Giveaway for a chance to win 2 free Special Guest Passes to The Women’s Conference 2010.

September 10-12:    Best Buddies Challenge

JOIN TEAM MARIA on a cycling adventure along the Pacific Coast Highway from Carmel to the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, which also includes an optional 5K & 3K walk. For more information, click HERE.

October 10:     Pier del Sol

JOIN US at a family festival & fundraiser for Special Olympics, Southern California

• Santa Monica Pier & Pacific Park
• 10am – 2pm

October 25-26:     The Women’s Conference 2010

The Nation’s Premier Forum for Women

• A Day of Health, Wellness & Transformation and Night at The Village – Oct. 25
• A Day of Empowerment & The Minerva Awards – Oct. 26
• Long Beach Convention Center
• To learn more about The Women’s Conference 2010, click HERE.

**Check out The Great Giveaway for a chance to win 2 free Special Guest Passes to The Women’s Conference 2010.

December 7:    Season of Giving Event – Sacramento

The Women’s Conference supports a statewide holiday food drive and tree lighting event.

• California State Capitol, Sacramento

December 14:    California Hall of Fame Event – Sacramento

To honor legendary people who embody California’s innovative spirit.

• The California Museum, Sacramento
• Visit www.californiamuseum.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Women’s Conference 2010

October 25 & 26

Posted by Melanie Nathan

from Site of Womens Conference

 • 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