HEALTH

Reproduction rights for lesbians now a matter of social justice in France.

The right of lesbian couples and single women to have access to assisted reproduction was “a matter of social justice” and will likely be legislated next year, a French government minister said on Tuesday. The move would mark a significant extension of gay rights in France, where violent protests preceded the legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption by homosexual couples in 2013.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Fighting for surrogacy for gay men in Utah.

Jon and Noel started talking about having a family not long after they married in 2013. An author and a professor who have been together more than a decade, the couple considered adoption, but settled on surrogacy out of a strong desire to have a biological child. That plan was derailed last year when a southern Utah judge denied their petition to enter a surrogacy agreement with a woman who wanted to help make their family complete.

GayARP

Albany County supports veterans who were denied benefits.

When it comes to discharged LGBT veterans in Albany County, they don’t have to worry about being denied benefits due to their sexual orientation. County lawmakers on Monday passed a law that will ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans who were discharged under the federal government’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell police started under President Bill Clinton to receive county-level veteran’s benefits.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Nigel Owens – Coming out as gay easier than talking about bulimia.

Nigel Owens, one of the top rugby referees in the world, says it was easier for him to talk about being gay than to admit he still has bulimia. As a referee in world-class rugby, one of the most macho sports on the planet, I was the first in the sport to come out as being gay. In the hope of reaching out to other young people struggling with mental health, I was also one of the first sportsmen to speak openly about the biggest regret of my life — a suicide attempt. …

5 THINGS TO KNOW

India steps up to make transgender healthcare more accessible.

Kerala state Health minister KK Shailaja has declared that transgender clinics will be opened in all the government medical colleges of the state. As a beginning to it, one such clinic has already opened in Kottayam medical college and is functioning once a month for the time being. A statement released by the minister’s office says that all the departments of the hospital are coordinating well with the transgender clinic. The clinic functions on the first Tuesday of every month.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Counting the gay and bi population in Vancouver is like herding cats.

How many gay and bisexual men do you think there are in Metro Vancouver? Think of a number. I’ll wait. If you guessed 30,000, or three percent of Vancouver men, you’re probably not far off, according to a new study by a Vancouver researcher. But if you were way off the mark, don’t feel bad about it. It turns out counting gay and bisexual men isn’t easy, even for scientists.

HEALTH

Southern states need their own rules for the transgender population.

Nashville medical providers say southern states need help figuring out how to care for transgender people. Panelists from Middle Tennessee addressed a transgender health conference in Philadelphia this weekend. There is the complicated issue of cultural acceptance in conservative parts of the country. But Vanderbilt-trained neuroscientist Kale Edmiston, who is a transgender person, says the more basic issue is access to specialists.