08/11/2024
Dear ruralHarmony participants and partners,
Many in the LGBTQ+ community are unsure of what healthcare may look like over the next few years and have feelings of fear and doubt. Our community and lives have been scrutinized, leading to an extreme amount of healthcare discrimination and stigma towards q***r people, especially those of in rural areas.
We are deeply grateful for all that have worked with us and participated in our studies. Throughout the past 4, almost 5 years, hundreds of downstate, LGBTQ+ Illinoisans have shared their experiences of discrimination, healthcare denial, and rejection from family or friends. But these same individuals have also shared their joy, community-building work, and hope for a future where all LGBTQ+ people are entitled to the basic right of high-quality, equity-building healthcare.
Our original goal for the ruralHarmony program was to build regional expertise on the healthcare needs and the community-driven solutions for rural LGBTQ+ individuals; and this has not and will not change. While the future funding and political climate may be uncertain for this work, please know this: Our work will continue.
In January 2025, the ruralHarmony team will start recruiting for a long-term project aimed at developing the first community health needs assessment of LGBTQ+ individuals in downstate Illinois. This work will allow community organizations and policymakers to see, in writing, where we prioritize LGBTQ+ health equity needs and how we achieve that future through research and community partnerships.
In the meantime, take time to rest, be with friends, and care of yourselves. We are honored to be your research partners in this important work and look forward to continued work towards a equitable future for all LGBTQ+ individuals.
Sincerely,
Kyle Miller, PhD, LCSW
ruralHarmony Program Lead
