QBE Group Shared Services Centre’s Post

Healthcare is one of the leading segments for #LGBTQ+ mentions and related terms, including HIV/AIDS drug trial, treatment, and prevention programs, as well as expanding mediations to include PrEP. This contrasts with last year's analysis, in which only 7% of #healthcare organizations had LGBT mentions in their ESG filings. Learn more in our recent research study with ProntoNLP as we assess company conversation about the LGBTQ+ community: https://okt.to/Fikhzp

🌈 Celebrating Pride Month: Advocating for 2SLGBTQIA+ Health 🌈 As we honor Pride Month, it's crucial to reflect on the impactful conversations happening around 2SLGBTQIA+ health and how community health centers can drive change. A recent discussion between Ethan Goodman, MPA, and Dr. Dorian Rhea Debussy from Equitas Health shed light on how health centers can engage with state lawmakers to advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. Key Takeaways: ✅ Engagement with Lawmakers: Building relationships with state lawmakers through public comments, policy meetings, and sharing community stories is vital. These efforts ensure lawmakers understand the real-life impact of their policies on our communities. ✅The Power of Storytelling: A Catalyst for Change storytelling is not just a narrative, it's a potent advocacy tool. It serves as a bridge between policymakers and the communities they represent, bringing to light the tangible effects of legislation. ✅ Success Stories: Equitas Health's ongoing efforts to modernize outdated HIV laws in Ohio demonstrate the power of persistent advocacy and collaboration with lawmakers. As I reflect on my work advocating for gender-affirming primary care in rural California, I've seen firsthand the importance of state-level advocacy. Engaging with local lawmakers, sharing the stories of our patients, and maintaining a genuine, communicative approach are critical components of our strategy. These advocacy efforts are even more crucial in rural areas, where access to gender-affirming care is often limited. By building solid relationships with state officials, healthcare leaders can drive policy changes that ensure equitable healthcare access for all. #PrideMonth #LGBTQHealth #Advocacy #CommunityHealth

Around the world the rights of the LGBTQ+ community have never been more visible than they are right now. Last year, we saw the passage of one of the world’s strictest “anti-gay” laws in Uganda and at the same time, decriminalisation of gay sex in the South Pacific. This year in the United States, gender-affirming care is being threatened in some states, while Japan is considering officially recognising the children of same-sex couples as family. These developments and many others make it ever more important to recognise moments like LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK. Founded by the charity Schools Out, whose over-arching aim is to make schools safe and inclusive for everyone, LGBTQ+ History Month is now in its 20th year. The theme for 2024 is Medicine – #UnderTheScope, celebrating the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to the fields of medicine and healthcare. This is a theme that, not surprisingly, has special meaning to me. I’m CEO of a healthcare company that has a strong connection to the LGBTQ+ community. Many of our colleagues who work on discovering and developing new therapies (and ultimately, a cure) for HIV, as well as those who work with communities most impacted by HIV, are part of that community. And I’m honoured to be the sponsor of our LGBTQ+ council, which is focused on advancing LGBTQ+ rights across GSK and ViiV Healthcare. These are few of the reasons why issues of inclusion and anti-discrimination are very personal to me. Everyone should have access to healthcare services without fear of marginalisation, violence, stigma, discrimination or criminalisation no matter who they are or where they live. This month, we’ll look back at the last 20 years to reflect on how these issues affect our LGBTQ+ friends, family members and colleagues and how we can continue to support them. #wewontstop #lgbthistorymonth

🌈 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐+ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 🌈 Dr. Drew Picket recently shed light on a significant issue within the LGBTQ+ community: the mistrust of research. He stated, "There's a lot of research mistrust in the LGBT community. And I was just commiserating with a faculty member just yesterday who does a lot of work in HIV research as well. And it can be a challenge because frankly, in the past, systems and structures, universities, government have not been the best about operating ethically with respect to the LGBTQ community." Historically, many institutions have failed to operate ethically, leading to understandable skepticism. However, research participation is crucial. Why? Because the information gathered is essential in creating products, shaping policies, and developing data that meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. As Dr. Picket wisely points out, "We can't argue that. The data says this, if we don't have those stories, you keep talking to it. If we don't have that data, then we can't make those arguments. We can't make it, we don't understand what we don't know yet." The realm of LGBTQ+ caregiving is still emerging, and there's a lot we have yet to understand. By participating in research, we fill the void with real, high-quality information rather than relying on intuition alone. Shared stories and experiences become the foundation for developing the products and laws that truly reflect our community's needs. Let's work together to build trust and contribute to the research that will shape a better, more inclusive future. Your story matters, and it can make a difference. 💪❤️ Watch the full video here: https://buff.ly/46s0PZb #LGBTQResearch #Inclusion #CommunityVoices #ResearchMatters

🌟 New HPJA Publication 🌟 Check out this recently published article in the Health Promotion Journal of Australia: "Improving cervical screening rates among sexual minorities: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand" by Sonja Ellis! 💡 So What? Sexual minority women (SMW) experience inequities in health outcomes. The extant literature consistently suggests that SMW are much less likely than their heterosexual peers to engage in cervical screening. Using participant's voices, the focus of this study was to explore the ways in which cervical screening rates for SMW might be improved. The analysis showed that the inherent heteronormativity among health care professionals and the lack of clear and consistent information specific to SMW may be key factors contributing to lower rates of engagement in screening. Given that not engaging in screening is the main risk factor for cervical cancer, it is imperative that active consideration is given to these issues with a view to increasing participation rates among SMW. 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gaz34rTD #HealthPromotion #Screening #LGBTQ #CervicalCancer

In recognition of Pride Month, I sat down with Ethan Goodman from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for an interview about the advocacy work happening at Equitas Health. I shared insights about engaging state lawmakers to create positive change for patients and the broader community, and I'm so thankful that NACHC profiled LGBTQ+ focused public policy work happening here in Ohio. To read the article, click on the link below. To engage with other Ohio community health centers, be sure to follow the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC). https://lnkd.in/e-_rv6X2 #LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIAPlus #Transgender #NonBinary #Intersex #Community #CommunityOutreach #Health #Healthcare #HealthEquity #Medical #Hospital #Pharmacy #Medicine #State #Federal #Legislation #Policy #PublicPolicy #PublicAffairs #CurrentAffairs #CurrentEvents #PublicLaw #Law #Bills #Government #Legislature #Legislative #GovernmentRelations #Advocacy #Advocate #Activist #Activism #Pride #Pride2024 #PrideMonth #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #DEI #Belonging #DiversityEquityInclusionBelonging #DEIB

LGBTQ+ people can encounter barriers to accessing gynaecological care. In order to tackle this issue, it’s important that we have accurate data sets on all gynaecological cancers that can be broken down by ethnicity, age, geography, sexual orientation, gender, trans status and socioeconomic background. This will allow us to identify and respond to inequalities in outcomes and experience. The RCOG have recently published an updated joint policy statement with the British Gynaecological Cancer Society that calls for accurate data sets on all gynaecological cancers for each UK nation. This will enable meaningful results and analysis of service performance and improvements. The statement also emphasises that sexual orientation and trans status should be collected in line with the NHS England- commissioned guidance published by the LGBT Foundation, as per government commitments in 2018. Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wKPLH

Sexual and reproductive rights and freedoms have been hard fought and won over the decades and a lot of ground has been gained. What we’re seeing now though, and hearing more of from our international network of services on the ground and activists at International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and even through our own network here in Australia at Family Planning Alliance Australia is a disturbing rise in pushback. Our rights and freedoms are connected, and those who would see our rights to bodily autonomy, freedom of expression, equal love and access to education rolled back are connected too. It’s easy to feel as though our progress cannot be undone, that surely *we* would not slide backwards the way others have, but our rights and freedoms being rolled back anywhere affects our rights and freedoms everywhere. The global outlook is concerning and our movement needs to come together - to hold our ground and to keep pushing for equitable access to sexual and reproductive health, freedom and protection from discrimination and equality under the law.

FPH Drugs and Sexual & Reproductive Health SIGs have partnered to host a webinar on 29 July to provide an overview on chemsex practice. This session will focus on harm reduction, sexual health, and the role of LGBTQ+ voluntary sector organisations in supporting people who participate. https://lnkd.in/duc_KBEb

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth are part of every community, come from all walks of life, and are present in every racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographical group. While many LGBTQ youth transition from childhood to adulthood successfully and become healthy and productive adults, others are negatively impacted as a result of many factors; for LGBTQ youth, social stigma about their sexual choices or identities can be particularly difficult. Stigma comes in many forms, such as discrimination, harassment, family disapproval, social rejection, and violence. This puts LGBTQ youth at increased risk for certain negative health outcomes. For example, young gay and bisexual males have disproportionately high rates of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); adolescent lesbian and bisexual females are more likely to have ever been pregnant than their heterosexual peers; and transgender youth are more likely to have attempted suicide than their cisgender peers.