HEALTH

Gay and bi men in Vancouver smoke more than 50% higher than straight counterparts.

In the early days of 2005, flush with $350,000 of Health Canada and provincial funding, community activist Steven RodRozen was hired to do something about the number of gay men who smoke. A new study at the time showed that while only 19 percent of British Columbians smoked cigarettes, the number jumped to 29 percent among LGBT people.

HEALTH

Brazilian judge supports gay “cure” therapy.

Brazilian activists and celebrities have condemned a court ruling that approves a “cure” for gay people. Waldemar de Carvalho, a federal judge in the capital Brasilia, backed a psychologist who had her licence revoked for offering so-called “conversion therapy”.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

LGBT suicide prevention needs more discussion.

The United States recently recognized National Suicide Prevention Week, at which time experts noted that recent and continuing events—including those both directly and indirectly affecting the LGBT community—can be taxing to one’s mental health.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Hashtagging your way out of the closet.

A new LGBT hashtag has taken Twitter by storm, and it will warm your rainbow-coloured soul. There is nothing quite as wonderful as seeing LGBT youth embrace their identities and celebrate them with other out people.

HEALTH

How did they get their names? 9 transgender people share their stories.

Choosing a new name can be a big part of transitioning for transgender and gender non-conforming people, who often aren’t comfortable still being called by their birth name (also sometimes called a “dead-name”). But just like parents choosing a name for their newborn, the decision isn’t always easy.