LGBT Cancer Survivors' Voices Spotlight Cracks in Health CarE SYSTEM

The National LGBT Cancer Network released a new report today that uses the direct experiences of cancer survivors to paint a stark picture of the effect of discrimination on LGBT health. The free, downloadable booklet, “LGBT Patient Centered Outcomes,” uses the findings to suggest practical recommendations for improving health care for LGBT people.

“When we asked cancer survivors to tell us what they wanted health care providers to know, we were saddened, angered and moved by many of their stories; cancer is enough of a burden, no one should have to endure the discrimination, alienation, and, in some cases, less than adequate care because of who they are,” said Liz Margolies, Executive Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network. “For many of  the survey respondents, cancer treatment is both the same, and scarier.”

Go to the sites below to access this report and full article.

The National LGBT Cancer Network works to improve the lives of LGBT cancer survivors and those at risk by: educating the LGBT community about our increased cancer risks and the importance of screening and early detection; training health care providers to offer more culturally-competent, safe and welcoming care; and advocating for LGBT survivors in mainstream cancer organizations, the media and research. For more information, visit http://www.cancer-network.org.

The Network for LGBT Health Equity is a community-driven network of advocates and professionals looking to enhance LGBT health by eliminating tobacco use and other health disparities by linking people and information. The Network is a project of The Fenway Institute in Boston. The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education and policy development focusing on national and international health issues. For more information visit http://lgbthealthequity.wordpress.com/ and fenwayhealth.org.

 

Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

 

Stonewall Columbus Supports National Latino Aids Awareness Day

Stonewall Columbus is proud to support the ninth annual observance of the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). It is a day of hope for the future of a world without AIDS.

In service to our LGBT Latino community, Stonewall Columbus will have a spanish translator present during free AIDS testing on Monday, October 17th from 1-6pm at The Center on High at 1160 N. High St, Columbus, OH 43201. (AIDS testing done in cooperation with Columbus Aids Task Force/AIDS Resource Center.) For more information call 614-299-7764 or visit www.stonewallcolumbus.org

Latinos Unite! Let’s Stay Healthy! Get Tested for HIV
Latinos Unidos y Saludables! Hazte la prueba de HIV
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Stonewall Columbus serves the Central Ohio LGBT community by providing a community center and offering programming and services that enhance the well-being and visibility of our diverse community through discovery, affirmation and celebration. For more information http://www.nlaad.org

National Latino Aids Awareness Day Oct. 15, 2011

National Latino Aids Awareness Day is Oct. 15, 2011! You can participate in this important community awareness project by organizing, supporting and participating in events in your community.
NLAAD IS LESS THAN 1 MONTH AWAY!

NLAAD 2011 CAMPAIGN PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION
• To register as a participant, visit www.nlaad.org
• By registering you will receive up-to-date information about the campaign
• You will be listed as a participant on the NLAAD website
• ALL participating organizations are required to register before you add your NLAAD event(s) and so that you can request NLAAD campaign materials and supplies
• Please keep in mind that you must register each year, so that your past registrations will not transfer

NLAAD EVENT REGISTRATION
• We would love to know what you are planning in commemoration of NLAAD!
• Register your event(s) at www.nlaad.org
• Log in with your user name and password, and look for NLAAD Events tab on the top right hand side of the page
• If you are having multiple events, please register EACH event and list each SEPARATELY
• This gives us opportunity to also recognize the great efforts you are putting forward for NLAAD

Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

ARC Receives New CDC Award to Reduce HIV Transmission in Central Ohio

Activities will focus on young gay/bisexual men of color

DAYTON, OH-A new grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at reducing HIV transmission in Central Ohio has just been awarded to AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio).

The multi-year grant will support the activities of the new Greater Columbus Mpowerment Project. The initiative's activities will focus on empowering young gay and bisexual men of color to reduce their sexual risk taking and establish healthy peer relationships.

Nearly 600 young gay and bisexual men of color will also be tested for HIV through the project. Those individuals who test positive will be linked to supportive counseling to help them access treatment and adopt strategies to reduce transmission of the virus, thus enhancing both individual and community health.

Recent data show that young men who have sex with men (MSM) of color are at particularly high and increasing risk of HIV infection. According to CDC estimates released in August, between 2006 and 2009, the annual number of new HIV infections increased 48 percent among young black MSM. Among Latinos, men who have sex with men are by far the most severely impacted, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all new infections. Nearly half of these infections among Latino MSM occurred in the youngest age group (aged 13-29). Transgender people are also severely affected by HIV. It is estimated that 28 percent of transgender people are HIV-infected.

"This grant is extraordinary news and a much-needed resource for HIV prevention in the Columbus area," states ARC Ohio Chief Executive Officer Bill Hardy.

Columbus has the highest rate of HIV in Ohio, and the 25th highest in the nation. Already, nearly 3,200 HIV-positive individuals are known to be living in Columbus, and another 600 are estimated to be infected, but not yet diagnosed. Based on health department data, it is estimated that every 25 hours someone in Central Ohio is newly-infected with HIV.

According to Ohio Department of Health data, of total living cases of HIV/AIDS in Franklin County, 2,601 are men, and 65.6% of those men are known to have acquired HIV infection through male-male sex, sometimes referred to in public health circles as Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). An additional 3% of Franklin County males living with HIV/AIDS report risk from male-male sex and sharing of drug injection equipment.

ARC Ohio has been a leading advocate for a public health approach to HIV/AIDS, one that directs scarce resources toward those most impacted. According to Hardy, "Gay and bisexual men still bear an enormously disproportionate burden of this epidemic. Two-thirds of all new HIV cases in Ohio are among this population, but less than a third of state HIV prevention dollars are allocated to HIV prevention programs specifically designed to reduce HIV among gay and bisexual men."

ARC Ohio Chief Operating Officer Peggy Anderson agrees, citing a recent federal study concluding that Men who have Sex with Men are 44 times more likely to be living with HIV infection than heterosexual men. Anderson will oversee the new project, which includes the establishment of a new Mpowerment Center in Columbus. The Center will function as both a central site to serve the needs of program youth, and as a hub for participant outreach activities. "In the Columbus region as across the nation, HIV is spreading most rapidly today among gay and bisexual youth of color," states Anderson. "This new program provides the critical funding needed to truly respond to the needs of these youth in our community."

Earlier this year, ARC Ohio released Two Steps Forward, One Step Back, a policy brief addressing the problem of inadequate funding for HIV prevention efforts to reach gay and bisexual men in Ohio. In addition to changes in funding priorities, increased funding for HIV prevention efforts overall; expanded utilization of evidence-based interventions in HIV prevention for MSM; and assurances that agencies receiving public HIV prevention funds are sensitive to, and inclusive of, the needs and experiences of gay and bisexual men.

The brief, which was endorsed by major local and statewide HIV/AIDS and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender organizations, also called upon state and local governments to ensure that HIV prevention efforts for gay and bisexual men receive an equitable share of public resources-one that corresponds to the continuing impact of HIV on gay and bisexual men.

Since July 1, AIDS Resource Center Ohio, the Columbus AIDS Task Force and the Ohio AIDS Coalition have merged to become Ohio's largest HIV/AIDS service, prevention education, and advocacy organization. With offices in Columbus, Dayton, Lima, Mansfield, Cleveland, Toledo, Athens, Chillicothe, and Newark, ARC Ohio will provide linkage to care, financial assistance and supportive services to more than 2,500 HIV-positive Ohioans in 2011. Thousands more will be reached with evidence-based prevention, HIV testing, and advocacy activities.

For more information, log on to www.arcohio.org.

A Call for Unity to Address HIV/AIDS among All Gay Males

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Latino AIDS Action Network (NLAAN) recognizes the fourth annual National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD). This day serves as a call to action for the urgent need to refocus attention on a community that has long been and continues to be disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic in the United States and around the world.

Data released in the peer-reviewed journal last month confirm that HIV incidence among gay men remains high, many HIV-infected gay men are unaware of their status, and minorities continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. The CDC estimates 48,100 new infections occurred in the U.S. in 2009, with gay and bisexual men remaining the population most severely impacted by HIV and the only population in which new HIV infections have been increasing steadily since the 1990s. Furthermore, NLAAN continues to be alarmed by the new estimates which identify Latino gay men as moving from the fourth to third most impacted population.

"Last month’s release of new HIV incidence estimates clearly indicates that our nation needs to reexamine and better understand the landscape of the HIV/AIDS epidemics among gay and bisexual men,” stated Patricia Canessa, Executive Director of Salud Latina and NLAAN Leadership Committee member. “Despite living in times of limited resources, we must strategically scale-up efforts that holistically address and support the lives of gay and bisexual men. We must view this time as an opportunity to have targeted discussions on the local impacts of prevention investments and how to maximize what we preserve to generate the most beneficial outcomes for gay men,” she further stated.

“We have a wealth of research that proves that treatment works to control HIV and that by diagnosing people earlier in their disease they have a stronger chance of living long, healthy lives,” noted Sergio Farfan, Co-Founder of the Louisiana Latino Health Coalition for HIV/AIDS Awareness and NLAAN Leadership Committee member. “However, we also know that Latino and Black communities are being diagnosed with AIDS within one year of testing positive due to late testing, low health literacy and lack of consistent health insurance. We must find solutions to change this reality, such as promoting routine HIV testing and timely linkage to and retention in care and treatment,” he concluded.

NLAAN strongly believes that the success of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (the Strategy) depends on the leadership of the community. We must sustain efforts aimed at building partnerships across sectors and racial lines, strengthening capacity of community service providers and enhancing the infrastructure of public health. Only through those efforts can we change the course of the HIV epidemic. We must collectively answer the Strategy’s call for a new era of collaboration and innovation.

“Communities must unite to effectively address HIV/AIDS,” stated Francisco Ruiz, Senior Manager at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) and co-chair of NLAAN. “The epidemic does not silo itself. It impacts everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, and immigration status. History has proven that the strength of our nation is built on the foundation of diversity and inclusion. Let's make sure our HIV/AIDS efforts are guided by that same vision and that our diversified capabilities are key to a decisive victory over this epidemic,” he added.

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Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

ABOUT NLAAN: The National Latino AIDS Action Network (NLAAN) was developed as a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis within Latino/Hispanic communities and is a participatory, collaborative and diverse network of community-based organizations, national organizations, state and local health departments, researchers and concerned individuals that identifies and prioritizes the key needs of Latinos regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, research and care and treatment. For more information on NLAAN, please visit us at www.latinoaidsagenda.org or www.facebook.com/NLAAN.

GLMA files Amicas Brief

Earlier this summer, GLMA submitted a friend-of-the-court brief presenting information about advancements in medical treatment of HIV in support of a lawsuit filed by an Atlanta police department candidate who was denied employment because of his HIV status.

The applicant, who is being represented by Lambda Legal, is appealing a federal trial court decision granting summary judgment to the Atlanta Police Department. The lawsuit claims the department refused to hire the applicant as a police officer because he is HIV positive, a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Rehabilitation Act. Last week, Lambda Legal completed filing briefs in this appeal before the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

In lower court, the Atlanta Police Department justified its decision by contending that the applicant could not show he was qualified to perform the job, because it believed that a police officer with HIV presents a “direct threat” to the health and safety of others. When assessing whether an infectious disease presents a “direct threat” to others (i.e., presents a significant risk of harm), earlier 11th Circuit cases have stated that—though the chances of transmission may be extremely low—because an HIV diagnosis “inevitably entails death,” the “direct threat” standard had been met.

GLMA’s brief argues that given the current state of medical knowledge about HIV, the 11th Circuit should change its analysis of the “direct threat” standard. The brief details that, even as HIV prevention remains a top priority, HIV today is characterized as a chronic, treatable disease. Medical advancements in antiretroviral drugs have dramatically extended life expectancy for people living with HIV and the quality of life of those living with HIV has dramatically improved. Because of these advances in the treatment and understanding of HIV, GLMA’s brief argues that the court should no longer consider HIV as “inevitably entail[ing] death.”

The brief further explains that the scientific and medical communities know much more now about the risk of HIV transmission than they did 10-plus years ago, when the 11th Circuit ruled on previous HIV discrimination cases. The risk of transmission of HIV in the line of police duty is negligible, especially given the reduced viral load of a person who is on antiretroviral drugs. Consistent with this evidence, other police forces and courts have found no reason not to allow police officers living with HIV to serve in law enforcement.

GLMA extends a special thank you and recognition to the law firm Latham & Watkins, which generously provided its services pro bono in authoring the brief and serving as GLMA’s counsel.

reposted at keystothecloset.blogspot.com

We need your help educating Congress about the Latino HIV/AIDS Crisis!

We need your help educating Congress about the Latino HIV/AIDS Crisis!
Congress needs to better understand the Latino HIV/AIDS Crisis.

Latinos/Hispanics in the U.S. represent 16% (U.S. Census Bureau) of the population but account for 20% of new HIV infections in 2009 according to the Centers for Disease Control. Support National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) by getting your Congressional representatives to attend the D.C. Congressional Briefing – Tuesday, September 20th in Washington, DC, US Capitol Visitors Center, Room SVC202. Attached please find the invite for further information and please forward widely.

NLAAD needs your help ensuring that your Congress member and or Senator, and their staff attend the briefing. Many times it takes phone calls and e-mails from their individual constituents to motivate our elected officials to attend an important meeting like the one being held on September 20th.

To find the contact information for your senator please visit: http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm

To find the contact information for your congress member please visit:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

New HIV Incidence Estimates Confirm Increased Impact among Latino Gay Males

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new HIV incidence estimates in the Public Library of Science Medicine (PLoS) which indicate that the overall number of new HIV infections has remained fairly steady from 2006–2009. However, the National Latino AIDS Action Network (NLAAN) is alarmed by the new estimates which identify Latino gay men as moving from the fourth to third most impacted population.

“These estimates underscore the historic challenge that Latino communities, particularly Latino gay men, have experienced in terms of the development of HIV prevention and testing efforts that are culturally and linguistically relevant,” stated Francisco Ruiz, Senior Manager at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and co-chair of NLAAN. “These new HIV estimates point to the depth of the HIV crisis among Latino gay men and the consequences associated with paltry efforts to prevent HIV transmission and combat multi-faceted forms of stigma,” he added.

As health departments and community-based organizations continue to experience drastic cuts in funding, we must carefully weigh the results of slashing prevention budgets. “The nation is at a turning point in the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” noted Oscar Raul Lopez, CEO/Lead Trainer of Connected Heath Solutions and co-chair of NLAAN. “We need to examine existing funding streams to ensure the development and support of effective behavioral, structural, and biomedical interventions for Latino gay men, including strategies that employ the use of technology like the Internet,” he stated.

The issue of immigration is a significant challenge faced by some Latino gay men. “As the disparity worsens with little relief promised to the newly immigrated Latinos under the Affordable Care Act, new measures to insure that the undocumented and new residents within the 5-year window have access to prevention, outreach, testing and treatment are imperative,” according to Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis, Director at the NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health and co-chair of NLAAN. She further explained, “This is particularly true given the fact that many immigrant Latino males often report facing particular challenges in accessing healthcare, including isolation from traditional social support systems, discrimination and a strong apprehension toward law enforcement.”

In light of the new HIV incidence estimates released today, NLAAN calls upon community-based organizations, health departments, federal agencies, policymakers, faith-based institutions, media outlets and other community entities to recommit to the goals outlined in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Only together can we effectively tackle this public health crisis.

About NLAAN: The National Latino AIDS Action Network (NLAAN) was developed as a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis within Latino/Hispanic communities and is a participatory, collaborative and diverse network of community-based organizations, national organizations, state and local health departments, researchers and concerned individuals that identifies and prioritizes the key needs of Latinos regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, research and care and treatment.