NIH recognizes LGBTQ community as 'health disparity population'

nbcnews.com ^ | Oct. 7, 2016 | Noel Gutierrez-Morfin

[PROCON]

In an effort to begin the process of rectifying health-related issues that disproportionately affect the LGBTQ community, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Thursday they will formally designate "sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) as a health disparity population for NIH research."

"Mounting evidence indicates that SGM populations have less access to health care and higher burdens of certain diseases, such as depression, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. But the extent and causes of health disparities are not fully understood, and research on how to close these gaps is lacking," Eliseo Pérez-Stable M.D., director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, said in a statement.

"This designation marks an important and necessary step in realizing NIH's mission to advance the health of all Americans," Pérez-Stable added.

Kellan Baker, a senior fellow for the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress, has been working with the NIH to make the announcement a reality since the beginning of the Obama administration. Now that it has come to fruition, Baker believes that not only will the NIH be able to coordinate more effectively among its many institutes that study LGBT health disparities, but that LGBT health research will be taken more seriously in general.

"This isn't a matter of politics. It isn't a matter of public opinion. It's a scientific fact that LGBTQ people face a health disparity."

[PROCON]

But the extent and causes of health disparities are not fully understood,..

I won't go there but definitely need a call out to...

[GraceG]

[ Mounting evidence indicates that SGM populations have less access to health care and higher burdens of certain diseases, such as depression, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. ]

Well, know for sure that last one can be lessened if they would just stop screwing everything that moves so much.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Hell in a hand basket.

[heterosupremacist]

B.S.!!

The money spent by the Feds searching for a ‘cure’ for AIDS has for many years been more than the other causes of death combined...

Go, Trump, GO!

[sphinx]

"This isn't a matter of politics. It isn't a matter of public opinion. It's a scientific fact that LGBTQ people face a health disparity."

It's a scientific fact that LGBTQ people are mentally ill, which conduces to depression and assorted other mental health issues, and frequently engage in high-risk, self-destructive sexual behaviors, with predictable consequences for both physical and mental health.

The NIH could announce a crash program to address the underlying mental illness. But it prefers to concentrate on normalizing dysfunction and treating the symptoms.

[BitWielder1]

"Group ____ have less access to health care" is code for We Must Spend More Taxpayer Money.
How can anyone not have access to health care these days.

[Chainmail]

"It's a scientific fact that LGBTQ people face a health disparity."

Yup. Walking disease vectors, coming to a school near you.

[Petrosius]

It is indeed a health disparity population because they are not getting the psychological help they need to overcome their sexual disorders.

[fwdude]

Ironically, the queer “community” was never healthier than when homosexuality was almost universally condemned by society.

[bgill]

More tax dollars down the drain.

[Alberta's Child]

Who doesn’t know that smoking a salami or shoving up your @ss causes health problems?

[PROCON]

That’s correct and then as open promiscuity increased, the HIV/AIDS epidemic broke out in the early 80’s and it’s been downhill ever since.

[lewislynn]

NIH recognizes LGBTQ community as 'health disparity population'

With L-G-B-T is the "Q" really necessary?

[SauronOfMordor]

It’s not that they “have less access to health care”. They have plenty of access. They just DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, nor their lives. Of they cared about their health, they would not be having anal sex in the first place.

[PROCON]

Who doesn’t know that..

Oh, they know all right, just trying to keep their jobs and justify more tax dollars, and keep the LIV's in the dark.

[jsanders2001]

< [ Mounting evidence indicates that SGM populations have less access to health care and higher burdens of certain diseases, such as depression, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. ]

Oh no you just committed a hate (truth) crime. Here come the the UN blue hats to take you in for brain stem implant therapy.../s

[Little Ray]

OF course the LG whatever community has health issues.
Just to start with, they’re all mentally ill.

[ZOOKER]

Used to be Medical Science said they were "Queer because they were sick".

Now they decide they are "Sick because they are queer".

I think they were right the first time.

[HiTech RedNeck]

quit buggering?

[dfwgator]

Playing with feces can be hazardous to your health.