Urge Continued Funding of The LGBT Health and Human Services Network of New York

A network of over fifty nonprofit organizations serving over 800,000 LGBT New Yorkers is striving to get the bare minimum necessary from the state for funding purposes. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health and Human Services Network of New York reduces health disparities and promotes access to quality care. The amount requested for this fiscal year is $2.048M which falls short of the amount of funding needed but serves to maintain basic and critical services.

New Yorker's please use the e-action form to contact your elected officials.

National LGBT Health Awareness Week

This year the theme of LGBT Health Awareness Week is Closing the Gap. The LGBT community has, on average, worse health outcomes and less access to the care we need than the straight community. We cannot afford to ignore the gap anymore. We need to educate ourselves and our health care providers about our unique health needs as well as our health risks. We need to commit to closing the gap, because everyone deserves good health!

To help accomplish this, we have provided many resources. You can learn more about specific health issues relevant to the LGBT community, download and print out fact sheets, find events to attend and see ideas of simple ways individuals and organizations can get involved.

More information on how to get involved and download materials here.

H/T to Feministing.

Demand LGBT Inclusive Health Care Reform

Please sign this petition by the Stonewall Democrats to our party leaders - Speaker Pelosi, DCCC Chair Rep. Van Hollen, Sen. Reid and DSCC Chair Sen. Menendez - demanding comprehensive and LGBT-inclusive health care reform.

Private studies have shown that there exist disparities in health, health care access, and health care outcomes between the general population and LGBT people and families. Employment discrimination and lack of government recognition of same-sex relationships both contribute to these disparities.

The health care reform bill must include LGBT-inclusive policies, and in particular, data collection about the relationship between sexual orientation and gender identity and health care access.

LGBT Center Awareness Day (9.15.09)

Today is LGBT Center Awareness Day, an opportunity to honor and celebrate the difference queer community centers make in our lives. The 2009 theme is “My Community Center Changed My Life” and will focus on the vital role that community centers play in the health, empowerment, and unity of LGBT communities.

Celebrate the day by going to an event at your local LGBT center or share your story about how the center has impacted your life.

Find a center, join a program/club, or donate at the Directory for LGBT centers.