Lavender Health – LGBTQ Resource Center

New ruling protects against LGBTQ workplace discrimination in the U.S.

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Peggy L Chinn

Last week the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) concluded that discrimination against LGBT workers is essentially discrimination based on sex, and therefore it violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Here is how Time summarizes the rationale for this ruling:

In the past, courts have ruled that Title VII does not cover discrimination based on sexual orientation because it’s not explicitly mentioned in the law, but the EEOC’s ruling disputes that reasoning. “Sexual orientation discrimination is sex discrimination because it necessarily entails treating an employee less favorably because of the employee’s sex,” the EEOC concluded. The committee argued that if an employer discriminated against a lesbian for displaying a photo of her wife, but not a straight man for showing a photo of his wife, that amounts to sex discrimination.

After the Supreme Court ruling that assured the right of marriage for all in the U.S., attention turned to the fact that in most states, there is no protections against employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. This EEOC ruling is a huge step toward ending employment discrimination, but many believe that we still need legislation that addresses specific protections for LGBTQ individuals in both employment and housing. Meanwhile, this ruling provides a major avenue for fighting against employment discrimination – and knowing it exists is as essential as the ruling itself! So pass this along to all your friends and colleagues!

Posted in Activism, Legal Issues, LGBTQ rights | Tagged Employment Discrimination, Title VII | Leave a comment

Rise in Meth Use Among Urban Black MSM

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Thomas Lawrence Long

As reported in the New York Times in June 2015, addiction treatment providers in New York have seen a rise among black and Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) in the use of the “club” or “party” drug “crystal meth” (methamphetamine hydrochloride, a more potent and more dangerous form of amphetamine, known by a variety of street names, including “Tina,” “poor man’s cocaine,” “crystal,” and “ice”).

Previously associated with white, affluent urban gay men, as well as the rural poor regardless of sexual orientation, crystal meth’s allure was tarnished in recent years by its association with serious health risks, including a increased probability of engaging in unprotected sex while using the drug.

Crystal meth induces euphoria, lowers inhibitions, and delays ejaculation in men, thus it has come to be used in “party and play” (PNP) sex, sometimes for extended periods of time.

However, it can also cause mood changes and longstanding brain changes, as well as cardio-vascular effects. Its euphoria makes users more inclined to engage in risky sexual behavior that may lead to HIV infection, and those already HIV infected are particularly vulnerable to its neurological changes. More information here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine

Many of New York’s men of color are caught up in the intersection of race, ethnicity, and socio-economic class, as well as sexual orientation. They may be more likely to have been ostracized by their families and churches, to be targets of violence, and to be less stably employed.

The Times article features the work of the health organization Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD): http://www.gmad.org/

The article by Mosi Secret can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/nyregion/meth-finds-a-new-market-in-new-york.html

Posted in Mental Health, News | Tagged crystal meth, drug abuse | Leave a comment

LavenderHealth joins in celebration of the US Supreme Court ruling on Marriage Equality

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Peggy L Chinn

Today, the landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court made marriage equality the rule of the nation! While there are many challenges ahead, the fact that there are so many symbols, everywhere we turn, of support and utter joy, makes this occasion one for unrestrained celebration! Watch this video of the comments made by the chief plaintiff in the case, Jim Obergefell, whose story is a moving example of the importance of this decision and its effect on health and well-being:

Posted in Activism, Legal Issues, Marriage Equality | Tagged Jim Obergefell, Supreme Court | 1 Comment

Victimization of Transgender People

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Michael Johnson

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an internationally known group that is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Their work on LGBT issues spans decades and primarily focuses on the Southeast. They recently published a poignant article, In the Crosshairs, about the victimization of transgender people. The author, Don Terry, profoundly describes the horrific crimes that are perpetrated toward transgender people. It is eye-opening and illuminates the amount of work that still needs to be done for the trans community!

Posted in Join the discussion | 1 Comment

Nursing Research Interest Group Forming in US Eastern Region!

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Peggy L Chinn

More and more frequently, we see signs that LGBTQ health is gaining attention in nursing! Last month we posted information about two important LGBT policy statements that were issued by the American Academy of Nursing Today, we learned of a historically significant initiative to form a research interest group in one of the largest nursing research societies in the U.S.!

The Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) is calling for members of the Society to form a research interest group (RIG) focused on LGBTQI health and health disparities. Here is what they sent out to members today:

There are a growing number of nurse scientists interested in this area of research, but few opportunities exist for collaboration, particularly for those early in their career trajectory and/or not located in urban centers. In addition, for those of us who are engaged in work in this area, there are barriers to getting research approved, funded, and published.

Our goal is to build a network of nurse scientists to facilitate the sharing of ideas, resources, and experience in order to increase the amount of high-quality research and the dissemination of research findings in the area of LGBTQI health.

ENRS members who are interested, send an e-mail that includes your name and ENRS member number to enrs.lgbt.rig@gmail.com by July 4^th, 2015. If you are in the Eastern Region and want to support this effort, contact them to learn more! You can find out more about ENRS by visiting their web site here!