Straight Parent, Gay Kid

Does Your Child’s Doctor Know About LGBT Health Disparities?

It’s hard for a parent to really know what goes on in their child’s doctor’s office.  Even a minor, WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT, by state laws, has access to:• STI and HIV Services• Mental Health Services• Drug or Alcohol use Treatments• Contraception• AbortionsTake your teen to the pediatrician and before the visit is over, you are…

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL HOMOPHOBIA WITH NO RECESS

Gay and Lesbian youths face greater risk of violence, according to the first nationwide study administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the first time that the federal government’s biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey investigated sexual identity. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SURVEY Some 15,600 students across the country, ages 14 to 17,…

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Know Where Your Party Stands For LGBT Rights

When it comes to LGBT rights, the Republican and Democratic party differ sharply.In a nutshell, The Republic platform did not specifically use term LGBT, favors state rights, freedom of religion to exercise opposition to gay marriage, and allows parents to employ conversion/reparative therapy for their LGBT children to make them straight.  This form of “therapy”…

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Conversion Therapy Still Endorsed by Republicans

Conversion Therapy Still Endorsed by Republicans Family Research Council Hammers Home The President of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, succeeded in introducing an amendment to the Republican Platform affirming “the right of parents to determine the proper treatment or therapy for their minor children.” You know what this means…The FRC approves of conversion or…

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We Celebrate Our Independence Today

And Our Inclusive Military Policy Yet, just six days ago, transgender members of the U.S. Military served in silence and were considered unfit for serving openly.  According to Palm Center, an independent think tank that researches issues of sexuality, there are 12,800 actively serving transgender members of U.S. Military currently serving secretly.  The Department of…

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Don’t Believe Everything You Read!

Call me gullible but when I read that President Obama had declared June 26, 2016 as National Equality Day, I was thrilled!  It made sense. After all, June is Gay Pride Month, according to Obama.  The month of June has many LGBT victories: On June 26, The Supreme Court decided in favor of  James Obergefell…

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Backlash of Gay Rights During Gay Pride Month

President Obama proclaimed on May 31st that June is LGBT month.  Said he, “ I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people. “ Despite his announcement, on the cusp of Gay Pride Month, Omar Marteen, who lives in…

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Segregation All Over Again?

A few weeks ago, I was at the welcoming LGBT Community Center on west 13th Street in New York City.  I wanted to look at the space at the BGSQD (bookstore/event hall) within this well-known community center. As you might expect, all their restrooms are LGBT-friendly.  I eventually had to use the facilities so I…

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This Memorial Day, We Remember Those Who Served, Those Who Couldn’t Serve

Today, I am remembering my grandfather, born 1887, who received Belgian’s Croix de Guerre, my great grandfather, a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard Navy during the Spanish American War, who received a Congressional Medal of Honor, and my husband, who received a Purple Heart  for his injuries inflicted during operating a helicopter during the Tet…

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May Is Mental Health Awareness Month, But Not Every State Honors It

Tennessee and Mississippi Have Discriminatory Laws Last month, Republican Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee signed into law House Bill 1840 that legalizes discrimination against LGBT people.  The law allows counselors to cite religious beliefs for refusing services to LGBT patients. Originally, the terminology of the bill allowed for “sincerely held beliefs,” but the state House…

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