5 THINGS TO KNOW

Transgender HIV testing far behind gay & bisexual men.

Although transgender people are at high risk for HIV infection, they reported testing for the virus at just over half the rate reported by gay and bisexual men in recent surveys. The wide disparity calls for enhanced outreach to transgender women and men, researchers wrote in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

HEALTH

The difference between dating men and women, a bisexual’s viewpoint.

A recent Reddit thread asks: “Bisexuals who have dated both men and women, what are some differences you’ve noticed?” And the responses are quite interesting.  Let’s take a look and what people said… When it comes to sex, most bisexuals agree that it’s easier getting laid with the menfolk:

HEALTH

Bridging the gap for LGBT youth health services.

North Carolina Congresswoman Alma Adams held a press conference at Time Out Youth in Charlotte on Aug. 23 to announce her introduction of the Youth Access to Sexual Health Services Act (YASHS) to the U.S. House of Representatives. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by a team of co-sponsors including Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and seven others.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

A shelter for Britain’s LGBT homeless.

A fundraising campaign has been launched to open Britain’s first homeless shelter for LGBT people. The shelter, based in London, will comprise a former tour bus previously owned by the rock band Status Quo remodelled to temporarily house those most at risk from the dangers of rough-sleeping – many of whom also face compound problems resulting from hate crimes, domestic abuse, family rejection, and poor mental health.

HEALTH

Support for transgender youth begins in small town America.

Terri and Jaimie are moms who live in Grass Lake, Michigan. When you live in a town as small as Grass Lake, everybody knows your name. It’s what makes towns like Grass Lake the kind of place you’d want to raise a family. Grass Lake is also more diverse than anyone thought. Terri and Jaimie are both moms to young transgender kids. What makes Grass Lake exceptional is that its school board recently decided to allow transgender children to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity. What always strikes me about school board meetings like the one recently held in Grass Lake is the passion of the community – and how our goals are the same. We all want our children to grow up […]

HEALTH

LGBT community has a safe home in Ventura.

In a quiet Ventura business park, the Diversity Collective’s new Community Resource Center had its door wide open, ready for guests to drop in. Inside the lobby, Joseph Summers was quick to greet visitors to the recently opened facility run by the Diversity Collective Ventura County, a group dedicated to providing resources and support to the county’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Syphilis cases for gay and bisexual men spike in Scotland.

Scotland has had a shocking rise in the number of syphilis cases among gay and bisexual men. The rate of infection is now at 90% among men. New syphilis diagnoses rose 13% in 2016 with 356. This is the highest number Scotland has seen since 1952. The number doubled between 2014 and 2015, from 159 to 316.