COVID-19: LGBTQ community kept in closet by public health officials

 | 
04/26/2020

Everyone knows I’m queer. Except one group of colleagues. Ironically, they’re the ones from my own field — public health professionals. I work for the National LGBT Cancer Network, a CDC-funded, LGBTQ+ disparity network. I announce I am trans and bi whenever I host a training program for the Network. But while knowing one trans-bi person may be changing some hearts and minds, what public health officials are largely not doing is collecting health outcome data about the larger communities of LGBTQ+ people. What does that mean? We use tobacco at rates that are 50% higher than the general population, and ⅓ of all cancers are caused by tobacco use. But can I give you an overview of our disproportionate cancer impact as a result? No. Let’s switch to our current public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 2.3 million LGBTQ+ people are cigarette smokers. An early study out of China showed smokers were significantly more likely to be severely affected by COVID-19. Can I tell you how many more LGBTQ+ people are being severely affected by COVID-19? No.

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 03/27/2024
03/27/2024
Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian nation to recognise equal marriage after politicians passed a same-sex marriage bill. The lower house …
Added on: 03/27/2024
03/26/2024
Organisers of the Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK) have said that its event last year generated HK$200 million for the local economy, with contributions …
Added on: 03/27/2024
03/26/2024
Even as people fight for justice, some cries remain unheard and voices unanswered. In American society, many of these lost voices belong to the …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from ,

Added on: 03/27/2024
Even as people fight for justice, some cries remain unheard and voices unanswered. In American society, many of these lost voices belong to the …
Added on: 03/26/2024
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, signed a law last week that includes a mandate for the state’s public schools to teach LGBTQ history, …
Added on: 03/25/2024
A settlement has been reached in court between the State of Florida and parents, teachers, students and advocacy groups that challenged what has been …