MUSOM Health Spectrum Alliance - HSA

01/14/2021

Members of the Keyser City Council voted to become the 14th city in West Virginia to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination.

01/10/2021

Hello everyone!

HSA will be hosting a zoom meeting this Thursday (1/14) at 6:30pm to discuss the upcoming LGBTQ+ panel and our plans for the spring semester. (If you would like to attend, please respond to this message and we will send you the invite link.)

06/15/2020

The decision said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate because of a person's s*x, also covers s*xual orientation and transgender status.

07/28/2019

01/23/2019

BREAKING: The Youth Mental Health Protection Act, which would ban licensed medical providers from engaging in the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy or ex-gay therapy, on minors has just been introduced with strong bipartisan support in the West Virginia Senate!

Senate Bill 359 contains 17 sponsors and has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, where it appears to have enough votes to pass out of committee.

Every mainstream medical and behavioral health association in the United States has condemned the practice of conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and potentially harmful.

The West Virginia Psychiatric Association, West Virginia Psychological Association, West Virginia State Medical Association, West Virginia School Psychologists Association, West Virginia Chapter of American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics have all voiced support for the Youth Mental Health Protection Act.

“The reasons for our support are clear and simple. First, s*xual orientation is not a mental disorder, so we cannot treat people for it. Second, it is particularly harmful for minors and their psychological development to experience a treatment that is designed to convert them to a different s*xual orientation,” the West Virginia Psychological Association said in a letter of support.

At least one recent study has suggested that conversion therapy is associated with a three-fold increase in su***de attempts. It is estimated that 700,000 Americans have been subjected to conversion therapy.

Fifteen states and Washington D.C. ban conversion therapy on minors. The Youth Mental Health Protection Act would make West Virginia the 16th state.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

CONTACT SENATOR MICHAEL MARONEY AND THANK HIM FOR HIS SUPPORT/ASK HIM TO RUN THE BILL IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE --mike.maroney@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7902

CONTACT SENATOR JOHN UNGER AND ASK HIM TO SUPPORT THE BILL AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE -- john.unger@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7933

12/03/2018

Incredibly important information for current and future healthcare providers! https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1201/p645.html

Persons whose experienced or expressed gender differs from their s*x assigned at birth may identify as transgender. Transgender and gender-diverse persons may have gender dysphoria (i.e., distress related to this incongruence) and often face substantial health care disparities and barriers to care.....

12/03/2018

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1201/p645.html?fbclid=IwAR31cMRPZddfljh6zSqCqU1GLoHJE2LLvclrL2heFWsP9pv5hvWiLeromdc

Persons whose experienced or expressed gender differs from their s*x assigned at birth may identify as transgender. Transgender and gender-diverse persons may have gender dysphoria (i.e., distress related to this incongruence) and often face substantial health care disparities and barriers to care.....

02/14/2018

https://www.facebook.com/fairnesswv/posts/10155677381363813

Coming out to your health care providerBeing open with your healthcare provider about your s*xual orientation and gender identity is important in order to receive the best possible care. But many LGBT people are hesitant to share these aspects of themselves with their providers. Some tips a...

01/26/2018

Hormone therapy normally comes with a long list of risks, but incidence of prostate cancer in MtoF transitions may actually be less than cis-men because of the protective aspects of testosterone suppression and estrogen therapy. However, it’s important to educate our patients that they still need to have annual checkups on any s*x-related anatomy that may remain after a gender-affirming procedure.

Arm yourself with knowledge and keep taking care of yourselves, my friends!

Your risk may be related to your transition.

12/28/2017

I know this is a few days late, but it's always good to remember that the holidays aren't a happy time for all. Depression in the LGBTQ community tends to be higher overall, but when you take into consideration that many don't have good relationships (if any relationship) with their families, that rate increases even more over the holidays. This is an excellent article and reminder to reach out to those that may not have had such a bright welcome home.

Stay brilliant and stay lovely!
If nobody told you today, remember: I love you.

11/12/2017

A great story about a doctor who helped move transgender health forward in a peaceful and heartfelt way. It serves as a reminder that love and kindness and patience can (and do) put the world on the right road into the future. And that progress is being made in places other than big cities!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a-small-town-doctor-wanted-to-perform-surgeries-for-transgender-women-he-faced-an-uphill-battle/2017/11/11/c6073a0a-c3d7-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html?utm_term=.74f1d300afba

Geoff Stiller works in a conservative part of the Pacific Northwest. He didn’t realize what he was in for when he asked a hospital to allow him to perform vaginoplasties.

11/07/2017

It's that time of year! No, not quite The Holidays (don't start crooning about snow yet, Michael Bublé...).

ACA OPEN ENROLLMENT! [Nov 1 - Dec 15]

Health insurance sure is exciting, I know. However, if you're not as gung-ho or you're unsure how to navigate the tricky waters of hunting down the right coverage for your needs, there's a great website that specifically helps members of the LGBTQ community find a fit. Even if you don't need it for yourself, go ahead and share with your friends and fam in case someone in your circle is still as bewildered as Congress as to how health insurance works.

http://out2enroll.org

Happy Health!

08/18/2017

“Sexual and gender-minority people have really never been at the forefront of a study in this way before. We very much want things to not live and die in medical journals. We want this be by, about, and for the community.”

http://amp.slate.com/blogs/outward/2017/08/14/pride_study_will_help_doctors_learn_about_lgbtq_health.html

Thomas Barwick/Getty ImagesWe Don’t Know Nearly Enough About LGBTQ Health. A Massive New Study May Change That.By Daniel Summers Aug. 14 2017 1:00 PMAny sufficiently large and well-defined community is likely to have health concerns that disproportionately affect it, and LGBTQ people are no exceptio...

01/30/2017

This Tuesday, January 31, Health Spectrum Alliance will be holding an LGBT Community Patient Panel. This panel will emphasize inclusivity and cultural competency and will be an opportunity to learn about specific healthcare needs for LGBT patients. The event will take place in the Byrd Clinical Center Auditorium at 2:30pm. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Health Spectrum Alliance

Please send any questions regarding this event to marshallhsa@gmail.com

11/21/2016

Hi everyone,

Next Monday we will be having our first event of the year--Dr. Alexandra Kadner, Ph.D. from West Virginia University will be giving a lecture on Le***an and Transgender Health. The event will be in the Byrd Clinical Center Auditorium on Monday, November 28th at 6pm. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Your HSA Team

08/06/2015

I have not been posting lately, but it's a new year! HSA will be at the MS1 first year orientation and is planning an active year. Can't wait!

04/07/2014

Cardea offers training and resources for physicians, advanced practice clinicians and other primary care providers to deliver clinically competent, respectful, culturally proficient health care to transgender and gender variant people.

03/27/2014

Please consider donating.

http://www.youcaring.com/other/help-my-daughter-keep-her-transgender-child/144297

I'm raising money to help my daughter who's in an expensive legal battle because she supports her transgender child. These funds are her best hope for keeping custody. Please help and spread the word.