Community voice
by Jibri Douglas MPH candidate 2017 Health Management and Policy Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University Founder and CEO TJD Medical Consulting-a diversity and inclusion boutique consulting firm that specializes in healthcare strategic planning for LGBT initiatives Today, the LGBTQ community faces many public health issues, which are both complex and nuanced. For many LGBTQ people these issues can easily be exacerbated by the intersections of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Nationally, LGBTQ people experience some of the worse health outcomes. For example, lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to engage in preventive services for cancer, LGBTQ youth are more likely to commit suicide and to be homeless, and gay men have higher rates of HIV and STIs. Aside from health risks, LGBTQ people are more likely to experience hospital related trauma, especially transgender individuals. Seventy-five percent transgender people have experienced being refused medical care due to stigma, lack of culturally competent providers and healthcare systems. In Philadelphia, similar to many other metropolitan areas, there are many services that address the needs of the LGBTQ community. For instance, there is the Mazzoni Center, which is known for its comprehensive transgender health program. There is also an excellent LGBTQ health program at Penn Medicine. Likewise, there are community-based organizations that serve the needs and provide safe spaces for LGBTQ youth such as the Attic Youth Center and the William Way Center. In terms of advocacy, one thing that is being done to benefit and provide the appropriate care to the LGBTQ community is a current research project conducted in the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University by Dr. Augusta Villanueva and the Attic Youth Center. Their research project looks at the relationship between being both a racial and sexual minority youth and how being a double minority has both risks and protective factors. They are doing this research through the use of a needs assessment survey. This needs assessment will support in identifying the needs of LGBTQ racial and ethnic minority youth to inform future interventions promoting healthy adolescent and young adult development throughout Philadelphia. The best thing that students, faculty, staff and the general public can do to advocate for the LGBTQ community is to continue to create safe spaces. Safe spaces can be created anywhere from the home, to schools, to restaurants and bars, and also in healthcare settings. Moreover, there is a need for more support and advocacy around continued LGBTQ cultural competency trainings in all fields, especially in healthcare. These trainings will rebuild the community’s trust in healthcare providers and institutions, create greater access to healthcare, and lead to better managed care and health outcomes for the LGBTQ community. |
Who Can Contribute?Community Voice authorship is shared by diverse members of the Public Health and Philadelphia communities. Archives
March 2017
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