Each week HuffPost Gay Voices, in a partnership with blogger Scout, LGBT HealthLink and researcher Michael G. Bare, brings you a round up of some of the biggest LGBT wellness stories from the past seven days. For more LGBT Wellness visit our page dedicated to the topic here.
Bi Women and Substance Use
Jennifer Midberry, AOL
Two new studys show more about bisexual health disparities. The first, using data from the National Adult Tobacco Survey, found bisexual women were less likely to have prior quit attempts, lower age of first cigarette and higher nicotine dependence. The good news: all sexual minorities had similar desires to quit. The second found that college age sexual minority women had greater substance use than heterosexual women, with bisexual women having the highest alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use.
State Tobacco Report Card Season!
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LGBT HealthLink just released the first-ever grades for states LGBT inclusion into tobacco programs, check out your state’s ranking!
Teach ‘Em Right!
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Recent debates around inclusion of HIV, LGBT and STI information in sex ed curriculum has resulted in the National Coalition Against Censorship writing a letter supporting such topics' inclusion in sex health classes, stating that “Suppressing information about HIV, STDs and contraception would… potentially expose students to serious health risks.”
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Legalizing Discrimination?
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Michigan House passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act this week. Critics are concerned this would allow doctors, nurses, pharmacists and emergency medical personnel to refuse service to LGBT patients on religious grounds. Even if it doesn't pass the Senate, it’s still a bad sign for equality in healthcare.
Medical Education and Cultural Competency
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The American Medical Association is pushing for more inclusion of social determinants of health in pre-med and medical school curriculums, including focus on racial minority populations and LGBT populations.
Transition Care Reduces Risky Behaviors
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New analysis of data from a study of trans women’s health found a correlation between access to transition-related medical care and lower rates of binge drinking, non-injection drug use and suicidal ideation.
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Cultural Blindspots In Care
Tom Merton via Getty Images
We like the way Jennifer Potter phrased discriminatory care as “cultural blindspots.” She’s one of the authors of the recently released American Association of Medical Colleges training guidelines for health providers. In her new oped she shows the consequences of these blind spots, for example, cervical cancer screenings are performed less frequently for lesbian or bi women.