Coalition outlines top health priorities for the transgendered


The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health, a group focused on improving the health and well-being of the LGBT community through federal advocacy, on Monday released a list of the top health disparities affecting the transgender population. The list was created to help educate health care providers--and members of the larger gay community--about the specific health needs of transgendered men and women.

The document, called "An Overview of U.S. Trans Health Priorities," outlines 13 specific health concerns for the transgendered:

Violence and murder prevention;

HIV and other STD prevention and treatment;
substance abuse prevention and treatment;

depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide prevention;
lack of health insurance and underinsurance;


lack of health insurance coverage for trans health services;

Gender Identity Disorder as the principal diagnostic means determining access to trans health services;

lack of Food and Drug Administration approval for transgender hormonal therapy;
widespread injection silicone use, especially among male-to-female transgendered people of color;

the continuing misclassification of sex reassignment surgery as "experimental" by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid;

lack of training in U.S. medical schools for trans health service delivery and working with transgendered patients;

medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment provider insensitivity and hostility to transgendered people;

and tobacco use.


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Children At Rally Defended
NewstalkZB


The head of Destiny Church is labelling as trivial the controversy over the use of children in their protest against the Civil Union Bill. There is concern the children, who were dressed in black shirts and tee-shirts, took part in the "Enough is Enough" march on Parliament.

tsPastor Brian Tamaki says the media is focusing on one tiny aspect of yesterday's large demonstration. He claims the children are not angry or unbalanced, but were with their parents and are good kids with good values and standards. Pastor Tamaki says the church will continue to express its displeasure about the bill.

But trans-sexual(sic) MP Georgina Beyer says she was subject to abuse from the young members of the demonstration who called her "George," "queer" and said she was not normal. Ms Beyer says the scene reminded her of a Nuremburg rally