ASHA

Sexual Health text on card, concept background

Why is Syphilis Surging?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that syphilis cases in the United States increased by nearly 80% to more than 207,000 between 2018 and 2022.  With gonorrhea and chlamydia,…

A rustic old non-binary flag on weathered wood

In the Grand LGBTQ+ Scheme of Things, What Does “Non-Binary” Mean?

We’ve all heard of GAY PRIDE, particularly in June in major cities.  Maybe you’ve heard of Bisexual Awareness Week in September?  There are so many terms for different sexual orientations. …

Pride Month

How Much Pride Is Enough? A Straight Mother Marches, Her Gay Son Doesn’t

June is usually thought of as LGBT+ PRIDE month.  It’s an opportunity for the LGBT population to relish in their accomplishments over the years for acceptance, solidarity, community, and a…

GLSEN Day of (No) Silence

Quiet! It’s GLSEN’s Annual Day of Silence April 12,2024

What is GLSEN? GLSEN is the Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network.  Its purpose is to ensure safe schools for LGBT+ students so they receive an education free of harassment and…

Nex Benedict

Too Many Suicides of Transgender Youth

A “nonbinary” sixteen- year-old walks into a girls’ bathroom in Oklahoma. Not just any bathroom, but that which this transgender student at Owasso High School student identifies with.  Dagny “Nex”…

Couple Holding Hands and a Condom

STIs are on the Rise: What You & Your Child Should Know!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, all STIs (sexually transmitted infections) have dramatically increased in 2023.  Syphilis cases (all stages and congenital syphilis) have increased 80% in the past…

white clapboard church building

Why Is Religion within the Same Denomination Separating Us?

Churches Continue to Split on Subject of Same-sex Marriage Over seven years ago, January 14, 2016, to be exact, the Anglican Communion suspended its American branch, the Episcopal Church, from…

Pope Francis - Photo by Ashwin Vaswani on Unsplash

Slouching Towards Full Inclusion?

On Monday, December 18, Pope Francis, almost eighty-seven, approved a new rule that allows priests to bless same-sex couples.  But before you yell, “Hurray, Gay Pride has finally arrived at…

Susan Berland

Susan Hope Berland – Personal Coach for Parents of LBGTQ Kids

Greetings! Parents of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) kids play a crucial role in supporting their children and creating a positive and accepting environment. Here are some key…

several lit candles

November is Transgender Awareness Month

Every November, the U.S.,as well as other countries, celebrate Transgender Awareness Month to increase understanding of the T (LGBTQ+) population. During this month, communities advocate for transgender rights such as…

asexual flag

In this Sex-Crazed World, Asexual is a Legitimate Sexual Orientation

A few years ago, I watched a TED Talk about sexual orientation.  A high school female confessed that she’d rather “wash dishes than have sex!”  At first, I thought she…

Bisexual Pride Flag

Bisexuals Are NOT “Just Sitting on the Fence”

Bisexual  Awareness Week, also known as Biweek, is an annual celebration from September 16-23.  It was founded by GLAAD and BiNet USA. Why?  So allies and people learn about the…

Woman in Blue Shirt Talking to a Young Man in White Shirt

The Reasons Behind Higher Suicide Rate of LGBTQ+ Youth

The Trevor Project Survey, 2023 Reveals the Reasons Imagine you’re at a middle or high school where you are harassed for being non-binary, then you go home, which may not…

gay pride flags flying

“Don’t Say or Write Gay”

It seems that the achievements of the Stonewall Rebellion in June 1969 and the passage of the same-sex marriage in June 2015 did more for the  advancements of the LGBTQ+…

GLSEN Day of Silence logo

Shh! It’s GLSEN’s Annual Day of Silence

Did you know that: 82% of LGBTQ + students experienced 1st hand harassment or bullying in their school. 71% of students reported that their classrooms did NOT include any LGBTQ+topics.…