Coalition outlines top health priorities for the transgendered (13474)

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.

"Our goal is to educate our own communities about issues impacting our trans brothers and sisters," said Jessica Xavier, cochair of the disparities working group, "and as a result, save lives of probably one of the most medically underserved populations."

The overview is based upon a meta-analysis of the available research on U.S. transgender populations, not all of which has been published in journals. Many of the issues outlined in the document are interrelated and are primarily related to access to health care--to trans health services, behavioral health services (including substance abuse treatment and smoking cessation treatment), HIV/STD care, and routine health and wellness care.

"We need to stay focused on 'Healthy People 2010' [a federal report on the nation's health care needs] and ensuring that transgendered people are included in our nation's health disparities efforts," says Moonhawk River Stone, cochair of the disparities working group. "Understanding the complexity of gender identity issues is essential to building on the momentum from the HP2010 companion document for LGBT health created in 2000."

For more information about the transgender health priorities document or the National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health visit the organization's Web site at www.lgbthealth.net.