Herland Sister Resources

National Coalition for LGBT Health is announcing the Third Annual National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Awareness Week, scheduled for March 13 - 19, 2005.

The National Coalition for LGBT Health is committed to improving the health and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and communities through public education, coalition building and advocacy that focuses on research, policy, education and training.

The National LGBT Health Awareness Week is a very visible way for you to support the Coalition and promote a healthy LGBT community across the nation
via four objectives:

1. Raise public awareness of the unique health concerns, as well as the very real health disparities, among the LGBT communities,

2. Educate the LGBT health communities about the health issues that are present in our communities, since there is a belief that awareness in our communities must be significantly improved,

3. Provide community health centers, local organizations, and community representatives with tools to amplify the national campaign at the local level,

4. Educate medical and health care professionals in the area of cultural competency with regard to LGBT health.

To ensure the National LGBT Health Awareness Week is as successful as possible, there are many ways for individuals and organizations to contribute to the national campaign and get involved on the local level.

* Join us in Washington, DC from March 13-15, 2005 to kick off National LGBT Health Awareness Week with strategy meetings, lobbying, and hill briefings. Participate in LGBT Health Lobby Days at HHS and Capital Hill on Tuesday, March 15th. A form to request additional information for our two-day meeting can be obtained by calling, writing or visiting Herland Sister Resources.

* Help get the word out about LGBT Health issues during the week of March 13 through 19, 2005. Make sure your community organizations, clinics, health departments, universities, and allied organizations participate in whichever way they can. Some ideas for participation are holding a town-hall for your community, including a special article in your newsletter or website, writing letters to the editor, hosting an open house or health fair for your agency, and having a proclamation from your city council, mayor, or governor.

* Please share your ideas on what will make this week a successful one. Let’s us know what you are planning so that we can promote your activities via our newly designed Awareness Week website (to be launched in January 2005), and provide you assistance where possible. You can submit your plans or ideas by emailing our National Field Director, Donald Hitchcock, at coalition@lgbthealth.net. Your input is valued and important in the work that we do.

* Materials are being produced to assist you in your outreach and educational efforts currently available on our website at www.lgbthealth.net. Thirteen informational fact sheets (English and Spanish versions) dealing with pertinent LGBT health issues will be available for free from our website: Aging Issues, Cancer, Domestic Violence, Smoking, Mental Health, Genital Warts and HPV, Nutrition and Weight, Sexual Health, Access to Quality Healthcare, Hepatitis A, B, and C, Youth Issues, MTF Trans Health, and FTM Trans Health. Please use these as tools to help you educate the community about our issues. A form to request postcards and posters can be obtained by calling, writing or visiting Herland Sister Resources.

We are excited about the possibilities and potential for raising the awareness in our community and beyond around LGBT health in all of its issues. Your participation in the Third National LGBT Health Awareness Week will ensure that we will be able to work together in a coordinated way and provide a unified voice at the forefront of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health.

Donald Hitchcock,
National Field Director National Coalition for LGBT Health 1407 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009