LGBT and Sexual Health

Why is teaching children and adolescents about sexual health important?

 Listen to The Guardian podcast “Let’s talk about sex” (1) - (18min)

What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?

 Watch vlogbrother video “Human Sexuality is Complicated” (2) - (4min)

In which Hank takes on a topic he's been afraid to cover for a while now. How should we talk about sexuality, what is the difference between sex and gender...and between sexual orientation and sexual behavior. It's very interesting...and I think understanding it is a key to decreasing the amount of hate and self-hate out there.

When should we start to talk to children about gender identity?

 Check out Huffington Post “Talking to Elementary School Kids About Transgender Identity” (3) - (16min)

A self-identified feminist mom tells her story of coming to recognize her son for who he is rather than who she assumed he was based on his sex assigned at birth. Gender non-conformity is something often championed by feminists, but trans identity is something else entirely.
 

How is LGBT health treated in the American healthcare system?

 Watch “Invisible: The State of LGBT Health” (5) - (12min)

Medicine has not traditionally been very kind to to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. While homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973, and was no longer considered a disorder, attempts by doctors to “treat” it persist even today. Though research and understanding of LGBT healthcare has improved in recent years, the social stigma and discrimination faced by LGBT people leads to health disparities that put them at a greater risk for certain conditions. However, these health disparities have been notably absent from the discussion on inequality and discrimination that the LGBT community faces. This film is an attempt to stimulate discussion and bring awareness to the issue, as well as act as a call to enhance efforts to improve LGTB health by healthcare providers.

How do sexual health outcomes vary by race?

 Listen to NPR “When It Comes to HIV, Black, Gay Men Most At Risk” (6) - (10min)

What social determinants and health risks disproportionately affect LBGTQ individuals?

In a 2015 survey of LBGTQ New Yorkers conducted by the NYC Department of Health found the following results (7):

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Geographies of Interest

Washington Heights and Inwood, NYC

 The population of Washington Heights and Inwood is 71% Hispanic, 17% White, 7% Black, 3% Asian, and 1% Other (8). Washington Heights and Inwood have higher rates of teenage births at 28.8 per 1,000 girls ages 15-19 than 16.0 for Manhattan overall (8). Overall, Washington Heights has a higher rate of HPV vaccination at 59% of girls ages 13-17 than Manhattan, and a higher rate of HIV testing at 71% compared for 66% for Manhattan (8).          

 

Harlem, NYC

Harlem Hospital’s patient population is 44.5% African American, 40.8% Hispanic, 9.5% White, 3% Asian, and 1.7% other (9). Central Harlem demonstrates significant disparities in sexual health outcomes, when compared with Manhattan overall. It has a higher rate of teenage births at 29.1 per 1,000 girls compared to 16.0 in Manhattan overall (8). Only 50% of girls ages 13-17 have received an HPV vaccine, though Central Harlem has a high rate of HIV testing at 78% of adults compared to 62% in Manhattan overall (8). This may be due to the high rate of new HIV diagnoses in Central Harlem, the second highest in New York City at 89 per 100,000 people (8).

 

If I am interested in this topic, where can I learn more?

Check out Nancy podcast “Q is Growing Up” (10) - (20min)

This podcast tells the story of an 11-year-old trans boy and how his family has supported his LGBT identity. It talks about some of the controversy surrounding transgender children.

Check out the documentary “Gen Silent” (11) - (28min)

This documentary explores the health of elderly LGBT people and inequality they face in the healthcare system. This segment also features an interview with the director, but the full documentary is not available for free.

In the Life: Ep. 2002, "In the Life Presents: Gen Silent." Original air date: November 2010. Featured guests: Stu Maddux. Summary: This episode presents an extended excerpt from Gen Silent, a documentary about issues LGBT seniors face in the health care system.

Check out Fresh Air podcast “AIDS In Black America: A Public Health Crisis” (12) - (37min)

Dr. Robert Fullilove, professor at Mailman School of Public Health, discusses the disparities in HIV rates in the Black community, including the roles of addiction, criminal justice, religion, and discrimination in furthering those disparities.

Check Out Last Week Tonight with John Oliver “Sex Education” (13) - (21min)

HBO’s John Oliver reports on the variable content and quality of sexual education across the country.

NOTE: some explicit language.

Sex education varies widely between school districts, leaving many teens without comprehensive information. We made a video that covers what some schools are too embarrassed to teach. Connect with Last Week Tonight online..
 

Sources

1.    Ford, L., & Stewart, K. (2016, June 15). Let's talk about sex: why do we need good sex education? – podcast. Retrieved July 12, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/audio/2016/jun/15/lets-talk-about-sex-why-do-we-need-good-sex-education-podcast

2.    Vlogbrothers. (2012, October 12). Human Sexuality is Complicated... Retrieved July 12, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXAoG8vAyzI

3.    Aarons-Mele, M. (2017, February 28). Talking to Elementary School Kids About Transgender Identity. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/talking-to-elementary-school-kids-about-transgender_us_58b5890de4b0e5fdf61976df

4.    Human Rights Campaign. Debunking the Myths: Transgender Health and Well-Being. Retrieved from https://www.hrc.org/resources/debunking-the-myths-transgender-health-and-well-being

5.    Invisible: The State of LGBT Health. (2017, July 11). Retrieved July 12, 2017, from https://vimeo.com/120083815

6.    When It Comes To HIV, Black, Gay Men Most At Risk. (2012, July 18). Retrieved July 12, 2017, from http://www.npr.org/2012/07/18/156976062/when-it-comes-to-hiv-were-all-at-risk

7.    Results of a Survey of LGBTQ New Yorkers. Retrieved from https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/results-of-a-survey-of-lgbtq-new-yorkers/

8.    New York City Community Health Profiles. Retrieved February 21, 2017, from https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-publications/profiles.page#mn

9.    HARLEM HOSPITAL CENTER - nychealthandhospitals.org. Retrieved February 20, 2017, from http://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/harlem/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2016/08/chna-harlem-2013.pdf

10.  WNYC Studios. (2017, July 16). #15: Q is Growing Up. Retrieved from https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/nancy-podcast-transgender-child

11.  Gen Silent. Retrieved July 12, 2017, from http://gensilent.com/

12.  AIDS In Black America: A Public Health Crisis. (2012, July 05). Retrieved July 12, 2017, from http://www.npr.org/2012/07/05/156292172/aids-in-black-america-a-public-health-crisis

13.  LastWeekTonight. (2015, August 09). Sex Education: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0jQz6jqQS0