Health Education in the GLBT Community?

Question

I work in the healthcare and I'm involved in various healthcare initiatives and groups that are relatively mainstream - the Heart Association, Diabetes Association, American Cancer, etc. You see their information everywhere, they provide screenings at health fairs, they target schools, businesses, etc.

However, when I attend any type of a GLBT community function, such as Pride fair, whether in my own community or larger communities like San Francisco, I rarely see any presence from these organizations. I see agencies related to mental health, substance abuse, HIV, etc. -- all important issues within the GLBT community -- but it seems as though there's no effort to provide "general" health info to the GLBT community. More people will die of cancer and heart disease, but you don't see that info. It's seems like there could be a stronger focus on linking health ed resources with the GLBT community, or should we assume GLBT people will find that info on their own?

Also, assuming agencies like Heart, Cancer, Diabetes,etc. wanted to reach GLBT, would it take a special effort? If beer and car co.s develop campaigns to reach GLBT, don't health advocacy grps need to, also, rather than assuming we'd be responsive to their general message?

Answer 1

Well, you make an excellent point. LGBT people are just as prone to these medical conditions.

Perhaps these organizations don't want to be associated with a "gay" event. However, I have seen medical associations that cater to LGBT clients - and not just about HIV - at such events, so perhaps they cover such topics.

Answer 2

I suppose these organisations don't see any specific links, for example their is no higher rate of heart disease in the glbt community so they don't feel their is a need to target information at them.
I guess it is assumed that this information is accessed by glbt people through the same means as a straight person access this information or is provided with it.

An interesting point though, even to not have tailored advertising to the community large events would still be an opertunity to provide information to people regaurdless of if the demographic would be at more risk than another.

Answer 3

so take the matters into your own hands and start to help make that change, I am sure there are plenty of others who feel the same as you do