March 27 through 31 marks National LGBT Health Awareness Week 2017, organized by the National Coalition for LGBT Health.

This year’s theme is “ACT OUT for LGBT Health! Action on Health Access and Equity.” It’s based on feedback from a survey that showed health equity as a major issue in LGBT health care. According to the coalition, topics to be addressed include access to public accommodations, structural health disparities, discrimination in health care and behavioral health outcomes.

Goals of the week’s events are:

  • Creating positive action for LGBT health care access by raising awareness of LGBT health disparities among policy-makers, the public and the LGBT community

  • Educating the public about efforts to reduce the stigma and discrimination LGBT individuals face in the health care system

Activities are scheduled throughout the week, including:

THUNDERCLAP (Monday, 10 a.m. EST): A kick-off to 2017 National LGBT Health Awareness Week

 

TWITTER CHAT (Monday, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. EST): A #MillennialMon Twitter chat about LGBT health with Young Invincibles and Out2Enroll!

 

WEBINAR (Tuesday, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. EST): “ACT OUT for Equity: Understanding the Impact of Social Determinants of Health on LGBT Health Equity”

 

TWITTER CHAT (Wednesday, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. EST): A #WellnessWed Twitter chat about LGBT health with Moms Rising and Out2Enroll!

 

WEBINAR (Thursday, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. EST): “ACT OUT for Access: Understanding the AHCA’s Impact on LGBT Health Equity”

The coalition also includes a series of tweets and Facebook posts that you can share; many of them pertain directly to HIV. Samples include:

2005-2014: overall #HIV diagnoses decreased 19%, but increased 6% among #gay and #bisexual men due to increases among Black and Latino men

1 in 5 LGBT individuals withhold info about their sexual history from healthcare provider #LGBThealth #ActionToAccess

Only 51% of #gay #bisexual men living w/#HIV remain in treatment over course of a year – PCP trainings avble @ https://tinyurl.com/h77g5bg

56% of LGB and 70% of Trans folks experienced discrimination in healthcare settings #LGBTHealth #ActionToAccess

HPV most common STI, major cause of anal cancer. MSM 17x more likely to develop anal cancer. HPV vaccine could reduce rates #LGBTHealth #STIs

Sexually active gay and bisexual men should get tested every 3-6 months for #STIs —.@CDCgov. #LGBTHealth

90% of transgender women newly diagnosed w/ HIV are African American or Latina #LGBTHealth

#ACA prohibits discrimination against #LGBTHealth, yet 100 Anti-LGBT bills have been introduced in states in 2017 goo.gl/ct4DrL

Keep up with the awareness events on social media by following these hashtags:

#ActionToAccess
#LGBTHealthWeek
#LGBTHealth