Useful Resources
LGBT Health Issues
December 16, 2008
This population is a diverse community with disparate health problems. Men who have sex with men, regardless of whether they identify themselves as gay, bisexual or heterosexual, made up nearly two-thirds of all men living with HIV or AIDS in the United States, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control study in August 2008, the most recent estimate as of February 2010. Gay male adolescents are two or three times more likely than their peers to attempt suicide, according to the CDC. Some research indicates that lesbians have higher rates of smoking, obesity, alcohol abuse and stress than heterosexual women. Conflicted feelings about sexual orientation can affect mental health negatively. Transgender people have higher than average rates of sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse. Updated February 2010
Resource Links
Blogs
Massachusetts-based blog organized by an AIDS outreach educator provides health and wellness information for gay and bisexual men.
Personal articles and information written by physicians, as well as LGBT patients diagnosed with cancer
Guidance for Consumers
The Web site features a plethora of basic health and wellness information for the LGBT community. Subjects directed at the gay community include anal health, MRSA infection, viral hepatitis and party drug use. Advisers of the site associate with Fenway Community Health, a national organization for LGBT health care and HIV/AIDS research.
Frequently asked questions regarding sexual identity and homosexuality
Advocacy
LGBT HEART is a national nonprofit advocating for LGBT causes through scholarship and research. The site also links to health screening guidelines for men and women.
The organization operates the Trevor Helpline to prevent suicide by LGBT youth and provide mental health support.
National lesbian health organization offering support (for cancer and other health conditions) and services to lesbians. The DC-based organization also trains health care providers about their lesbian patients.
San Francisco-based Openhouse teaches providers of health and elderly services providers how to better understand and serve LGBT seniors. Openhouse offers housing, community programs and other services.
California LGBT civil rights organization that raises awareness and sponsors legislation on LGBT issues
Public Policy
Outing Age is a 158-page document discussing LGBT aging policy. It advocates for certain aging policy frameworks that would benefit LGBT elders.
Founded by The California Endowment and others, the project is a training initiative to study the impact of family acceptance and rejection on the health and development of LGBT youth. Results are aimed at developing policies, as well as interventions and programs.
Statistics, Trends and Research
Fact sheet on HIV/AIDS in transgender individuals
Conference report published in 2004 (in Emerging Infectious Diseases) discussing the barriers to infectious disease care among lesbians
Fact sheets and other resources regarding health for lesbian and bisexual women
Fact sheets and other resources regarding health for gay and bisexual men
An overview of research on LGBT health issues
Understanding the Issues
A 209-page report on a variety of LGBT issues, including sexual identity, families of origin and families of choice, homophobia, cultural issues, substance abuse treatment, and more. The executive summary and overview sections of the guide are particularly helpful.
The CDC homepage on LGBT health issues, with links to information pertaining to each of the subgroups
