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.
1
Focus On Helping LGBT Elders
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The Columbia University School of Nursing and the Services & Advocates for LGBT Elders (SAGE) announced a new program to address the medical and mental health needs of elderly LGBT people in New York City. Additionally, southeast Michigan just launched an initiative to help local agencies better care for their elderly LGBT patients.
2
A Dangerous Love Story
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LGBT adults still smoke at rates 50% higher than others; new research shows our youth are smoking at rates 100% higher than others. Dr. Greg Cason calls this a dangerous love story. In his new article he sums up the science and shows us how to put the cigs down.
3
What’s Up, Doc?
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A new study found that although roughly two-thirds of pediatric medical professionals had cared for a transgender youth, less than half felt confident doing so due to lack of training, exposure and problems with insurance reimbursement. Obviously there’s work to do.
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4
Show Me The Money!
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A new report from the Funders for LGBT Issues found that LGBT communities receive an alarmingly small portion of all health funding, less than half a percent of the $3 billion available. Nicely, this week they convened the first ever LGBT health funding summit to try to move that needle.
5
Homeless LGBT Youth Get Helping Hand
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Houston announced a city-wide partnership between 60 agencies to get 5,000 homeless LGBT teens off the street by 2020. A bipartisan bill was just introduced into congress to restart critical services to help homeless teens get back on their feet. LGBT youth are particularly vulnerable to homelessness: up to 40% of homeless teens in America are LGBT, despite being less than 10% of the teenage population.
6
Don’t Miss Out, Healthcare Enrollment Window Closes Soon!
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There are only two weeks left until this year’s healthcare open enrollment period ends! See your options at Out2Enroll.com.
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