LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Health Awareness Week is March
25th – 29th. The theme for 2013 is Come Out for
Health. Per the American
Psychological Association, the 4 principles for this year include:
- Consumer Empowerment — by making resources
available to the LGBT community on how to approach their health care
providers about their sexual orientation and gender identity;
- Culturally Competent
Services — by
directing health care providers to resources on how to become a culturally
competent source of services for the LGBT community;
- Engaged Communities — by providing outreach
materials to a variety of organizations to encourage participation in LGBT
Health Awareness Week; and
- Inclusive Policymaking — by engaging Congress and
federal administration during LGBT Health Awareness Week and providing
resources to reach out to local and state officials related to LGBT
Health.
APA's Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Office provides a range of information and
resources for increasing psychologists' and others' cultural competence
concerning LGBT health and this year launched a new webpage for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health.
How can you get
involved?
There are several ways you
and your community can support LGBT Health Awareness week.
- Set up
an event in your community (e.g., round table discussion, health
fair)
- Write a letter to your senator
and/or congressman in support of LGBT rights
- Pledge a
commitment to LGBT health
Resources for
professionals:
APA Guidelines for Practice
with LGBT Clients http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/guidelines.aspx
Marriage and Family Issues
of LGBT People http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/marriage-and-family.aspx
Fact sheet on Psychological
and Social Outcomes of Children of Same-Sex Couples http://www.spssi.org/_data/n_0001/resources/live/Factsheet_Psychological_Social_Adjustment_V5.pdf
LGBT Families of Color:
Fact sheet http://lgbtmap.org/lgbt-families-of-color-facts-at-a-glance
Human Rights Campaign-
Guide to state level advocacy against hate crimes http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/a-guide-to-state-level-advocacy-following-enactment-of-the-matthew-she
Resource
for parents:
Human
Rights Campaign Parenting Resources:
Resource
Guide for Coming Out
For African Americans http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/resource-guide-to-coming-out-for-african-americans
For Asian Americans http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/family-and-coming-out-issues-for-asian-pacific-americans
An Ally’s Guide
to Issues Facing LGBT Americans (for heterosexual supporters) http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/an-allys-guide-to-issues-facing-the-lgbt-community
