LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence

‪💝 Support our research dedicated to improving health outcomes for 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ communities. Learn how you can make a difference at hsph.me/lgbtq-give

#episky #reprosky #medsky #LGBTQ #queersky #publichealth

Queer People Nearly Twice as Likely To Terminate Pregnancy—New Study "Abortion is an LGBTQ+ issue."

"Harms of restricting abortion care fall hardest on those who already face significant social barriers and barriers to health care."

Much more research is essential to ensuring #HealthEquity for ALL. Read more in this Q&A b/t @rewirenewsgroup.com & @payalc.bsky.social #medsky #publichealth #LGBTQ

📄 Just published: Our team's latest research shows that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are more likely to have an abortion compared to their heterosexual peers

#episky #reprosky #medsky #LGBTQ #queersky #publichealth

Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books Hits Milestone of 1,800+ Entries - Mombian I’m thrilled to announce that the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books now has over 1,800 entries, with more than 100 added since last November. Come see what's new for children ages 0 to 12 and for...

I’m thrilled to announce that the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books now has 1,800+ entries, w/100+ added since last November. Come see what’s new for kids ages 0-12 & for grown-ups, search/filter by topic/identity, & read my in-depth reviews! #BookSky #QueerKidLit mombian.com/2025/05/07/m...

Proud to share our new study published in @jama.com Network Open, shedding light on how abortion is an LGBTQ+ issue. Grateful to have led this work with an incredible team. Read more below ⬇️
#episky #reprosky #medsky #LGBTQ #queersky #publichealth #abortioncare

Support our research dedicated to improving health outcomes for LGBTQ+ communities. Learn how you can make a difference at hsph.me/lgbtq-give

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We need to improve LGBTQ+ reproductive health outcomes and their abortion/contraception care experiences. But services like pregnancy options counseling and contraceptive care are stigmatizing for LGBTQ+ people in many ways, which shapes and/or delays reproductive health care seeking. #reprosky
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We know that LGBTQ+ people experience more social and reproductive health barriers. These latest results suggest that abortion bans/restrictions are likely to exacerbate, entrench, and compound the inequities that LGBTQ+ people already face.
#healthequity #reprosky

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This was one of the few studies to look at abortion use among LGB+ folks, and it used data from three large national cohort studies in the U.S.

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Also: Pregnancies of het people who reported same-sex attractions/partners were 1.6x likely and pregnancies of people who reported being mostly het were 2x likely.

*Abortions in these groups have never been documented before.*

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What we found: Pregnancies of lesbian/gay people are more than 2x likely to end in an induced abortion, and pregnancies of bisexual people are 3x likely.
#reprosky #healthequity

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👩‍🔬Research by @payalc.bsky.social, Sarah McKetta, @colleenareynolds.bsky.social, Mikaela H. Smith, Heidi Moseson, @albeccia.bsky.social, Kodiak R.S. Soled, @taborhoatson.bsky.social, Aimee K. Huang, A. Heather Eliassen, Sebastien Haneuse, @britshmit.bsky.social

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Differences in Abortion Use by Sexual Orientation in 3 National Cohorts This cohort study uses data from the Nurses' Health Study 2 and 3 and Growing Up Today Study to assess differences in use of abortion care by sexual orientation.

📣Abortion is an LGBTQ+ issue.

In our latest research pub:
LGB+ people are more likely to use abortion compared to their heterosexual peers.

📄@jama.com OPEN #episky #reprosky #medsky #LGBTQ #queersky #publichealth

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Less than 1 year ago, I launched LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence at Harvard Chan School of Public Health 🏳️‍🌈✨

Our mission: advance health equity by training future leaders, driving innovative research, & informing public policy🏛️

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@lgbtqhealthexce.bsky.social #HealthEquity #LGBTQHealth

When an audience member asked about protecting insurance coverage for gender-affirming care, @esqueer.net mentioned that states play an important role in setting the standards for insurance coverage, and we should engage state entities to ensure access to care. /🧵
#TransAllies #HealthEquity

Oral argument in the case was heard in December, with a decision expected by the end of the Summer. /🧵

Caraballo @esqueer.net noted that it was unclear how the court would ultimately rule, but trans people should be aware of these additional threats to accessing care that could emerge if the Tennessee law is upheld. /🧵
#TransRightsAreHumanRights

A graphic with text that says, “It would effectively be open season on trans people by the federal government and the states,” if the Supreme Court rules that trans people are not legally shielded from sex discrimination in U.S. v. Skrmetti. And text indicating this quote is from Alejandra Caraballo, known as @esqueer.net on Bluesky, and a clinical instructor at Harvard Law. There is also a photo of her headshot.

The court could rule that when trans people are accessing gender-affirming medical care, they are not legally shielded from sex discrimination, which could complicate access to care for all trans people. /🧵
#TransRights #discrimination #HealthEquity

Despite U.S. v Skrmetti focusing on trans youth, the case will have consequences for all trans people. /🧵
#TransYouth #HealthEquity #TransRights

A graphic with text that says, "We need allies to speak up and be loud and vocal because our voices don't carry as well. Trans people make up a small proportion of the population and people will believe it more if it comes from a cis person." And text indicating this quote is from Alejandra Caraballo, known as @esqueer.net on Bluesky, and a clinical instructor at Harvard Law. There are also two small photos shown. One is of Caraballo speaking with the moderator Landon Hughes, and another shows the audience watching.

Here's what trans people and trans allies should know about US v Skrmetti, a Supreme Court case that challenges a Tennessee law banning trans youth from accessing gender-affirming health care. Based on our public discussion w/ @esqueer.net last week #TransLivesMatter #Transrights #HealthPolicy n/🧵

Shutting Down Federal Support for LGBTQ+ Health Care and Research A Penn panel of experts discussed how New White House policies are fraying the protections and health care safety net for LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Without this data, we erase the existence of #LGBTQ people from the data. However, their health needs are not eliminated. E.g. A clinician facing a trans man may not know what needs to be provided, like screening for cervical or breast cancer.”-Therese Rodriguez, Apicha #TransLivesMatter #MedSky

Here's a snippet featuring our Director @britshmit.bsky.social: “More than 500 bills just last year were proposed across states, so it’s important that this work happens now,” said Charlton. Now that rigorous study can’t be completed, making it harder to document the harm caused by these laws."

The Very Idea of LGBTQ Health Is Under Attack The Trump administration has canceled millions of dollars in grants to study disparities affecting the well-being of the community. Valuable research has been lost.

This analysis of canceled NIH grants really hits home.
“According to a Bloomberg Opinion analysis, more than half of the 550 grants terminated over the last six weeks by the NIH addressed LGBTQ health somehow,” writes @lisamjarvis.bsky.social #LGBTQ #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #MedSky

Mass. House passes language barring students from playing on teams of the opposite sex, but requires state analysis - The Boston Globe The Massachusetts House on Wednesday passed language that would ban public schools from allowing students to play on a team of the opposite sex, but only after the state is able to study the policy’s ...

The Massachusetts House has taken a major step towards banning trans athletes in sports.

It would be the first blue state to do so.

The amendment has been inserted into the state budget bill.

This is a five alarm fire for trans people in Massachusetts.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/09/m...

3. 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡: Developing impactful resources, content, and programs to inform and educate policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public on LGBTQ health issues and strategies for improving LGBTQ health outcomes.
/🧵

1. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡: Expanding the evidence base on LGBTQ health.
2. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Offering education, scholarship, and mentorship programs for the next generation of LGBTQ health leaders.
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A pledge card with the donation URL hsph.me/lgbtq-give and QR code.

Our Center urgently needs donations to continue our vital programs aimed at improving LGBTQ health outcomes, following the loss of ALL of our NIH funding. #MedSky #PublicHealth

Donate at hsph.me/lgbtq-give

We remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing #LGBTQ #HealthEquity through:
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A pledge card with the donation URL hsph.me/lgbtq-give and QR code.

Despite federal actions undermining equity programs, we remain committed to advancing LGBTQ health advocacy and research. So even if you're not a UPenn affiliate, follow us, sign up for our newsletter at buff.ly/1BqHW82 or donate $$ to support our #LGBTQ #HealthEquity work at hsph.me/lgbtq-give

An image with in-person event details for Breaking Barriers: Advancing LGBTQ+ Health Equity Through Policy at the University of Pennsylvania for Health Equity Week 2025. It is on April 10, 2025 at 3:30 to 4:30 PM in Claire M. Fagin Hall, Room 114, 418 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA. The speaker headshots are shown and include Brittany Charlton, Director, LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, Jerrica Kirkley, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Plume, Therese Rodriguez, CEO, Apicha Community Health Center and José Bauermeister, Director, Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative.

If you’re an affiliate @upenn.edu and interested in how research and policy intersect to support the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities, check out this panel discussion on April 10, incl our Founding Director @britshmit.bsky.social: buff.ly/oJfYN2x #healthequitynow #TransLivesMatter #MedSky

Apologies for forgetting alttext: An image highlighting the new event location at Harvard Chan School, Kresge G1 on April 9, 1:00 to 1:50 pm ET. Event is U.S. v Skrmetti: Arguments and Consequences for Transgender Health Care Featuring Alejandra Caraballo