Each week HuffPost Gay Voices, in a partnership with bloggers Liz Margolies and Scout, 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
3.9 Times More Skin Cancer for Sexual Minority Men
Ariel Skelley via Getty Images
A new large scale study shows 16 year old sexual minority men were 3.9 times more likely to indoor tan than other men. The authors express concern about an increase in skin cancer as a result -- of course LGBT data are not yet collected on cancer registries, so we can be worried, but we can’t get proof.
2
White House Honors Andrew Cray as Affordable Care Act Champion of Change
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Earlier we covered the sad passing of one of our young LGBT health leaders, Andrew Cray, from cancer. Now, we’re very pleased to see the White House honor Andrew Cray’s leadership as an Affordable Care Act Champion of Change. We say well deserved.
3
Over Half of LGBT Youth Feel Unsafe at School
Compassionate Eye Foundation/Chris Ryan via Getty Images
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) just released the results of their biennial School Climate Survey. While the news has gotten a bit better than the last time around, it still shows a wholly unacceptable level of harassment and fear in schools. We’re particularly upset about this since everything that happens earlier in life has a bigger impact on health for your whole life.
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4
31 Days of PrEP Campaign
Sigrid Gombert via Getty Images
The Advocate and HIV Plus magazine have launched a campaign to talk about PrEP for the 31 days of October. Follow the discussion on social media at #31DaysOfPrEP and catch some smart think pieces like this one calling for an end to PrEP segregation for gay and bi men of color.
5
Case Study in Excellence: Planned Parenthood Out for Health Program
Daniele Carotenuto Photography via Getty Images
Kudos to Planned Parenthood in the Southern Finger Lakes region of New York for showing us what committed people can do to change our health. After research found no trans services in their area, they built them. While the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association has now honored their achievement, perhaps the bigger testimony is from one of their clients who says “[this program] has literally changed my life.” Good job.
6
Navy Launching Survey About Mental Health of LGB Sailors
Frank Rossoto Stocktrek via Getty Images
We like the Navy’s new plan to launch a survey to explore the psychological and emotional health of LGB sailors. This week’s other news about the military isn’t as positive, it’s about a murder of a trans woman in the Phillipines and the U.S Marine being held for that crime. Clearly the military is making progress on LGB issues but has a ways to go on being trans-welcoming.
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