LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence—Harvard Chan School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute

I've concluded my LGBTQ+ Health Voices Fellowship with LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence—Harvard Chan School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, which was led by Brittany Charlton and Amanda Yarnell. Today, all scholars, students, and practitioners who have received support from the center met and spoke of our work and experiences. 10% of people in any generation identify as LGBTQ+, and this is double among young people today. Listening to younger people today talk about their feelings and fears regarding the recent actions aimed at LGBTQ+ people in the US made me realize that there is a whole generation of young people who have grown up in a more accepting world online and offline compared to how I've grown up. They might experience extra hurt from this erosion of rights, hate speech, and withdrawal of health and other services because they've not experienced it this way before. Progress on LGBT health in the US is threatened by cuts to public health, biomedical research, and health services that threaten to worsen health outcomes for people who are already experiencing higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to the general public. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, If you don't know a lot about LGBTQ+ health, just like any group of people that face particular challenges seeking and receiving lifesaving healthcare (such as immigrants, pregnant women, immunocompromised, older people, etc.) this group also faces worse health outcomes. See this Lancet viewpoint by authors from South Africa and Cameroon: https://lnkd.in/dBQHujnC Here's why studying it matters - US stats from KFF (see https://lnkd.in/d9w__WtQ) 🔹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 25% of LGBT+ people report being in fair or poor health vs. 18% of non-LGBT+, even though LGBT+ adults are younger on average. 🔹 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 67% of LGBT+ people say they needed mental health care in the past two years—almost double the rate of non-LGBT+ people (39%). Yet, 35% of those who needed mental health care didn’t seek it - often due to cost, stigma, or lack of affirming providers. 🔹 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 45% of LGBT+ people had at least one negative experience with a provider in the past 2 years (vs. 33% of non-LGBT+). This includes being dismissed, blamed, or not believed. 🔹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 Only 54% of LGBT+ individuals assigned female at birth had a Pap smear in the past two years, vs. 59% of non-LGBT+. 🔹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 & 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 29% of LGBT+ people struggled to pay medical bills in the past year. Among them, 61% used up most or all of their savings. 57% had difficulty affording basic needs like food, heat, or housing.

ICYMI Last week we lost ALL of our NIH funding. Here is some of the LGBTQ health equity research that our NIH funding has supported: ➡️ LGBTQ Youth are 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 than their cis het peers. Some LGBTQ teens did this on purpose to conceal their sexual orientation/gender identity. https://lnkd.in/ehSvvqr8 ➡️ Lesbian women are more likely to be burdened by cancer than heterosexual people. This is evidence that LGBTQ people, and sexual orientation data, 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡. https://lnkd.in/ex9adsvz ➡️ LGBTQ people are more likely to die sooner than straight people. Highlighting the 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 that contribute to this disparity. https://lnkd.in/eQF8u6Ep How can you support our LGBTQ+ health equity research? 1. Pledge to donate (or learn more): hsph.me/lgbtq-give 2. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ebFUafp2 3. Follow us and share #SupportLGBTQ #HealthEquity #LGBTQ #PublicHealth #CancerResearch #Mortality #Inequality #LGBTQyouth

🚨 URGENT: All of my remaining NIH grants were just terminated. Without some major philanthropic gift, that is the end of... 1️⃣ my career (as I know it) 2️⃣ LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence—Harvard Chan School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute 3️⃣ our team's work to advance LGBTQ health equity Yet, joy and optimism remain strong! 📚 Reading "Sam is My Sister" & "Heather Has Two Mommies" to my daughter's class today gave me hope. These stories teach kids (and adults) that family love knows no bounds. 🌈 Can we ensure the future of LGBTQ health together?

As we look to the new year ahead, check out this video on our work across Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute to advance health equity for #LGBTQ communities 🏳️🌈 Working with partners across Harvard and worldwide, we focus on #training to prepare the next generation of LGBTQ health leaders, #research to expand the evidence base of LGBTQ health, and #communication with policy­makers, healthcare providers, and the larger public about LGBTQ health.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as our Executive Director. This role will be responsible for our Center’s overall management, strategy, and growth. Responsibilities will include overseeing: day-to-day operations, strategic planning, supervision and mentorship of people, funding streams, grant proposals, and philanthropic funding. Job description 👉 https://lnkd.in/eARNgRiC

Our Center's inaugural event was in collaboration with #HarvardChanStudio featuring journalist Erin Reed 👇

Excited to welcome Ivan Hsiao back for this conversation with Erin Reed on engaging the public on LGBTQ health! I’m excited to attend and support this event later this week! Big thanks to LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence—Harvard Chan School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute for helping to make this event happen! Friends and colleagues near and far can check out this event in-person or online with the following information: 📅 Date: Wednesday, July 24 🕐 Time: 1:00pm-1:30pm (hybrid segment); 1:30pm-1:50pm (in-person Q&A) 📍 Location: Zoom (register for link) and The Studio at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 🔗 [Registration Link] https://lnkd.in/ehDhx2Mj *Those interested in attending in-person at Harvard's Longwood campus without a Harvard ID can connect with Ivan Hsiao or Brittany Charlton on LinkedIn to get on the visitor list in advance of the event. Fortunate for exposure to excellent conversations that Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health helps to platform! See y’all there!

📢 Join us for an insightful conversation on the state of gender-affirming care and public engagement on LGBTQ health issues! 🌈 The LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence—Harvard Chan School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute will host renowned LGBTQ health policy journalist Erin Reed. Erin will share her extensive knowledge and experience in advocating for gender-affirming care and discussing the current landscape of LGBTQ health. Trans Health HQ founder Ivan Hsiao will moderate this crucial discussion, providing a platform for in-depth conversation and audience engagement. 📅 Date: Wednesday, July 24 🕐 Time: 1:00pm-1:30pm (virtual); 1:30pm-1:50pm (in-person Q&A) 📍 Location: Zoom (registration required) and The Studio at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Those interested in attending in-person at Harvard's Longwood campus without a Harvard ID can connect with Ivan Hsiao or Brittany Charlton on LinkedIn to get on the visitor list. 🔗 [Registration Link] https://lnkd.in/ehDhx2Mj Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in a critical dialogue on LGBTQ health with Erin Reed! See you there!

Happy #Pride from The White House with Cody Rigsby, Kellan E. Baker, Samir Luther, Tim McCarthy, Mike Dillon, and so many more! First Lady Dr. Jill Biden closed her remarks by saying, "When you leave here, to go back into a place that still needs so much change, take that with you. Let it be a reminder that you don’t face these battles alone. You are never alone. I love you. Your President loves you." This echoed the closing of my address last week at the Society for Epidemiologic Research. My final call to action was: "Ensure that all of your colleagues belong. For those of you who have ever been told that you don’t belong in this field, in this society, or in your organization, know that you do belong."

Op-ed in today's Boston Globe from our Founding Director Brittany Charlton about the urgent need for advancing LGBTQ health equity through public health and medicine 👇 👇 👇 As she says, "Public health and medical professionals have critical roles in addressing the health crises facing LGBTQ communities. Yet even elite institutions aren’t giving future leaders the skills and understanding they need to do their part. For example, medical school students are not routinely trained to take a social history that’s inclusive of LGBTQ experiences. Public health students are not trained on how, or even why, they should collect sexual orientation and gender identity data along with other demographic data like age, race, ethnicity, and income. These gaps hamper our ability to document inequities, develop policies to address those inequities, and appropriately screen and treat patients who may be more vulnerable to certain health conditions due to minority stress."