
A new report on the non-HIV health and human service needs of LGBT people in New York state shows significant disparities compared to non-LGBT people, reflecting national trends exacerbated by lack of adequate data and homophobia.
The state-sponsored report, the first of its kind for New York, was prepared by researcher Somjen Frazer and published by the Empire State Pride Agenda. It is based on government data, interviews with 60 LGBT health and human services experts, and surveys of 3,500 LGBT New Yorkers.
Key findings of the report, according to Somjen, include the pervasiveness of homelessness, which poses a substantial barrier to service access. Fourteen percent of LGBT people, including one-third of transgender respondents, reported being homeless currently or at one point in their lives.
Lack of culturally competent care also creates hurdles, with 40% of LGBT respondents saying that too few health professionals were adequately trained to deliver services to LGBT patients. Moreover, 27% said they feared they would be treated differently if their health care provider learned they were LGBT.
Lastly, violence continues to present a challenge, with 13% of respondents saying that they had been physically or sexually assaulted because they were LGBT. Only 25% of those hit, punched or kicked in a homophobic assault said they had reported it to the police.
The full report, LGBT Health and Human Services Needs in New York State, can be found here.
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Bob and Jim are having dinner out with friends. The wine is flowing freely; everyone is having a good time. In fact, Bob is turning into the life of the party. He’s not drunk, just a bit louder and more gregarious than usual. He tells a tasteless joke and everyone laughs…except Jim. Unknown to Bob, Jim isn’t going to be speaking to him by the time they drive home. What’s going on here?
Why does something push our buttons – and why is it our partner who usually does the pushing? Someone once said that we marry someone who will bring out the worst in us – that is, someone with whom we ultimately feel safe enough to show our most unattractive parts.
Within each of us there is an amalgam of memories, wounds and experiences from earlier times in our lives – a child version of ourselves, if you will. The adult aspect of us is usually in charge most of the time, which is a good thing. Adults are better at managing problems, interacting appropriately with other adults and generally getting their needs met. But even when he’s in charge, this inner adult is not alone – the child persona is also part of our inner life.
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