Health

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Two new cases of more-infectious mpox strain found in UK

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Two new cases of a more-infectious strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, health officials have said. The new cases come after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced at the end of last month that a single case of Clade 1b mpox had been detected in the country. Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, was first declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in July 2022 after the number of cases suddenly increased in Europe and the Americas, particularly affecting gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men. In August, WHO again declared the disease a world health emergency, after a new strain – […]

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Intersex youth have worse mental health, and ‘harmful’ nonconsensual surgeries may play a part

Intersex young people struggle with their mental health at higher rates than their peers, and how they’re treated by their families and doctors seems to play a part.  Over half of intersex LGBTQ+ youth (55 percent) reported seriously considering suicide in the past year, according to a new report from the Trevor Project, compared to 39 percent of endosex LGBTQ+ youth — those who do not have an intersex condition.  There are several factors that could be contributing to this disparity, says lead author Jonah DeChants, including a “combination of stigma and misplaced shame and embarrassment among individuals and researchers as well.” “Historically, intersex identities have been […]

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The election could push LGBTQ+ mental health to the edge. Queer activists are fighting for a lifeline.

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Anti-trans legislation sweeping the country is proving deadly.  A recent study determined that such laws increased suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth by as much as 72%. And that’s just one instance of how LGBTQ+ mental health is on the ballot this election.  Studies overwhelmingly show that queer people are disproportionately likely to experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or to engage in self-harming behaviors, particularly LGBTQ+ youth. According to the Trevor Project, 41% of queer youth considered taking their own lives within the past year, and an estimated 60% say they were not able to access treatment to care for their […]

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LGBTQ+ people are at a higher risk of ‘adverse brain health:’ study

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LGBTQ+ people are at a noticeably higher risk of “adverse brain health outcomes” in comparison to their straight and cisgender peers — and discrimination could be having an impact.  LGBTQ+ adults are at a 15 percent higher risk of composite brain health outcomes, including dementia, strokes, and late-life depression, according to a new study published in Neurology. Transgender women in particular were found to have higher odds of having strokes. The study examined data from 393,041 participants with available information on sexual orientation and gender identity, of whom 39,632 (10 percent) identified as some form of LGBTQ+, with 38,528 (97 percent) belonging to a sexual minority […]

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Homophobic “locker room” talk hurts straight boys more than gay boys

Team sports are generally regarded to have positive benefits for kids, from gaining a new skill to socialization. However, there are some negatives associated with sports teams, particularly boys’ sports teams, when a culture of toxic masculinity and anti-LGBTQ+ language is present.  A study by Fordham University has shown that when youth are exposed to anti-LGBTQ+ language, it greatly harms them, unsurprisingly. However, the data also showed that it was not young queer children who are the most impacted by anti-LGBTQ+ language in athletic environments. It was young, straight white boys. Locker room talk with homophobic undertones, phrases like “man up” or […]

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Ron DeSantis bans Florida’s sex ed classes from mentioning anatomy & contraceptives

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The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) has ordered local school districts to submit their sex education plans to the state for approval. The FLDOE has also said the classes must promote abstinence and cannot include discussion of contraception or pictures of reproductive health organs. The sex-ed takeover removes local discretion when it comes to district sex education classes and materials. For some time, Florida law has mandated that sex-ed lessons emphasize the “benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the consequences of teenage pregnancy” for grades 6 through 12. But now the state has removed any local control […]

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Experts Urge End to Nonconsensual Intersex Surgeries

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Teams of prominent scientists and ethicists have called for the end of medically unnecessary nonconsensual surgeries on intersex children in two new papers.   On the heels of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s first-ever resolution affirming the rights of intersex people, the papers signal growing international resolve to address rights violations experienced by people born with variations in their sex characteristics, sometimes called intersex traits.   Since the 1950s, surgeons have conducted irreversible and medically unnecessary “normalizing” operations on intersex children, such as procedures to reduce the size of the clitoris, which can result in scarring, sterilization, and psychological trauma. Intersex advocacy groups, as well as […]

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The Trevor Project receives $5M grant to support LGBTQ+ youth mental health in rural Midwest

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The Trevor Project and the Helmsley Charitable Trust announced on Tuesday the trust awarded Trevor $5 million to support a campaign in support of LGBTQ+ youth in the rural Midwest. It comes after the Trevor Project found young queer youth are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide in rural areas than their peers. Across the country, every 45 seconds, it’s estimated that at least one LGBTQ+ youth attempts suicide, according to the group. The Trevor Project found that 55 percent of LGBTQ+ youth in Montana considered suicide, compared to 45 percent nationwide. In South Dakota, 19 percent of young people […]

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Mpox has been detected at a US prison – here’s everything you need to know 

Mpox, the highly infectious disease previously known as monkeypox, has been detected at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, a prison in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) has stated that there has been at least one case of Mpox located at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. “We’re actively managing the situation with robust health measures,” IDOC Chief of Staff Paul Cornelius said in a statement to the Des Moines Register, initially reported by KCCI-TV. “Affected individuals are receiving care, and enhanced sanitation and isolation protocols are in place to prevent further spread.” It remains unconfirmed how many of the 1,251 inmates have caught […]

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Major US insurer becomes first to expand fertility treatment cover to LGBTQ+ people

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A major US health insurance company is making artificial insemination available on all its eligible plans – regardless of sexual orientation or partner status. Aetna, a subsidiary of CVS Health, announced the landmark change its intrauterine insemination (IUI) policy on Tuesday (27 August). Members can access the benefit as a test of fertility and, in some cases, to increase the chances of pregnancy.  “Expanding IUI coverage is yet another demonstration of Aetna’s commitment to women’s health across all communities, including LGBTQ+ and unpartnered people,” the company’s chief medical officer, Cathy Moffitt, said. “This industry-leading policy change is a stake in […]

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