For Immediate Release
August 23, 2004
Contact: Donald Hitchcock, (202) 797-3516

COALITION CREATES U.S. TRANSGENDER HEALTH PRIORITIES PRIMER
Comprehensive Document Begins to Address Thirteen Health Disparities Among Population

Washington, DC - The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health, in an effort to address health disparities among the transgender population, has compiled "An Overview of U.S. Trans Health Priorities."

The overview is based upon a meta-analysis of the available research on U.S. transgender populations, not all of which has been published in journals. Many of the issues outlined in the document are inter-related, and primarily related to access to health care ñ to trans health services, behavioral health services (including substance abuse treatment and smoking cessation treatment), HIV/AIDS/STD care and routine health and wellness care.

"Our goal is to educate our own communities about issues impacting our trans brothers and sisters," said Jessica Xavier, co-chair of disparities working group. "and as a result, save lives of probably one of the most medically underserved populations."

This document found the top priorities to be: 1) violence and murder prevention; 2) HIV/AIDS and other STD prevention and treatment; 3) substance abuse prevention and treatment; 4) depression, suicidal ideation and suicide prevention; 5) lack of health insurance and underinsurance; 6) lack of health insurance coverage for Trans Health Services; 7) Gender Identity Disorder (GID) as the principal diagnostic means determining access to Trans health services; 8) lack of FDA approval for Transgender hormonal therapy; 9) widespread injection Silicone use, especially among MTFís of Color; 10) the continuing misclassification of sex reassignment surgery as "experimental" by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMMS); 11) lack of training in U.S. medical schools for Trans health service delivery and working with Transgender Patients; 12) medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment provider insensitivity and hostility to Transgender people; and 13) tobacco use.

One of the major goals of Healthy People 2010 was the elimination of disparities and outcomes in health care access, and therefore the issues contained in the document are classified within Healthy People 2010 categories.

"We need to stay focused on HP2010 and ensuring that transgender people are included in our nation's health disparities efforts," says Moonhawk River Stone, co-chair of the disparities working group. "Understanding the complexity of gender identity issues is essential to building on the momentum from the HP2010 Companion Document for LGBT Health created in 2000."

"The much needed focus and usefulness of this primer shows what thoughtful, committed community partners within the LGBT community can accomplish," said Eugenia "Henia" Handler, co-chair of the Coalition and director of government relations at the Fenway Community Health Center.


The National Coalition for LGBT Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals through federal advocacy that is focused on research, policy, education and training. The Coalition, founded on October 14, 2000 by some 50 national, state and local organizations, is dedicated to bringing together the rich diversity of the LGBT community at a national level - across gender/gender identity, race/ethnicity, disability, education, income, age and geography.