Victory! Healthy People 2020 prioritizes LGBT health issues
Specifically includes transgender health concerns
   
December 3, 2010
      
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=pwaqy9aab&v=001WeBrwlP3VB1EJrvzuxUwxDXJvEBIeXcahV99u_LrXDy96gVjXGOuc95Y4iN3uCA3N_7hI_C-QSeC9c-qRkZui-pY7RTuCyaWktzHm8vg9y7G-IeRjLG9qaqOXlA1ydxFmBCUW9xX8u-a9LJ2GpxgRvTMN6_lSiq1oG1NP3ml6cmX_FkpNe1Pg_ssBYSwsWx8MW3IO0CCwV2DsNvrw0aWz5QyS3K0MGLcZZUW30BJw_6l_dHsWFJX-g%3D%3D

The US Department of Health and Human Services today released its framework for public health for the next ten years, Healthy People 2020, which specifically includes urgently needed recommendations about transgender health.While there are some areas that NCTE and LGBT health advocacy organizations would have liked to see spelled out in greater detail, overall Healthy People 2020 represents a very positive step for transgender people.

[...]

Healthy People 2020 noted that transgender individuals have unique health needs that must be separately addressed from the larger LGBT category. It also mentioned that transgender people face higher rates of discrimination, HIV/STDs, mental health issues, and suicide than the general population, based in part on data from NCTE and the Task Force's groundbreaking study, the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Additionally, it recognized that transgender people are less likely to be covered by health insurance than heterosexual or even LGB people.

The day it has enough oomph to affect health insurance when it comes to surgeries, hormones, and blood work, is a day I will celebrate. Meanwhile it is nice to read but actions speak louder than words.