Blog Posts Related to the LGBT Community

The State of LGBT Health in Colorado

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from the HealthCare.gov blog.

All of us hope and expect to be provided care and treated well by the health care professionals we rely on every day to keep us healthy.  Unfortunately, far too often, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans are denied care or treated discriminatorily simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Last week, I had the opportunity to host a Conversation on LGBT Health in Denver, Colorado, in partnership with the One Colorado Education Fund.  One Colorado recently completed a comprehensive study to discover and document the state of LGBT health and wellness in Colorado.  The study surveyed nearly 1,300 LGBT Coloradans who shared their personal health care stories and experiences.  

Marguerite Salazar, HHS Regional Director (Region VIII), speaks at “A Conversation on LGBT Health”, January 19, 2012 in Denver, CO (photo courtesy of Jess Woodrum/ONE Colorado). January 19, 2012. (by Jess Woodrum/ONE Colorado)

One participant stated, “A lot of people might not come out to their doctor because it’s very scary.  You don’t know how people will react.”  Another respondent stated, “You can’t be healthy if you have to hide who you are. Or if you think you have to hide who you are because you don’t know if it’s safe.” 

According to the study:

• 21 percent of the LGBT respondents and 53 percent of the transgender community were refused care by doctors or other health workers
• 27 percent of transgender respondents do not have health insurance
• 74 percent of respondents reported a lack of or limited health insurance
• 83 percent of transgender respondents reported healthcare expenses to be a barrier to seeking services

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal One Year Later: “Out of Many, We Are One”

President Barack Obama signs the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 during a ceremony at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C., Dec. 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

 For we are not a nation that says, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” We are a nation that says, “Out of many, we are one.”  We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot.  We are a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal. Those are the ideals that generations have fought for.  Those are the ideals that we uphold today.  And now, it is my honor to sign this bill into law.

 -- President Barack Obama, December 22, 2010.

One year ago, President Obama signed into law the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act, bringing to an end a discriminatory policy that forced patriotic Americans to serve under a cloud of anxiety and isolation and stood in stark contrast to our shared values of unity and equality.

One year later, gay and lesbian service members can serve the country they love without hiding who they love – and both our military and country are stronger for it. 

To commemorate the one year anniversary of President Obama signing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act, we asked a few former service members to reflect on the long journey toward repeal and what it was like to watch President Obama sign the Repeal Act into law:

Zoe Dunning

Until her retirement in 2007, Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning was one of the only openly gay service members in the country, having successfully fought an attempted discharge in 1993.  For many of those years, she served on the board of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network as an advocate for the repeal of DADT. 

Watch Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning's story here.

Dignity For All: Reactions from LGBT and Human Rights Organizations

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton articulated the first-ever U.S. Government strategy to direct all federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

These actions represent a continuation of the Obama Administration’s commitment to safety, justice, and equality for LGBT people everywhere. President Obama expressed this commitment earlier this year at the United Nations General Assembly, when he said “No country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.” And since January 2009, Secretary Clinton has strongly and consistently championed a comprehensive human rights agenda — one that specifically includes the protection of LGBT people.

In response to these developments, a number of organizations that advocate for LGBT rights and human rights issued statements praising the strong leadership of the President and Secretary of State.  Here are just a few of those statements:

Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign

“The Obama Administration has made a tremendous difference in the lives of LGBT people in the United States and this new strategy helps to extend that presidential leadership across the globe.  There is no question that the administration’s record of advancing equality for LGBT people has been enhanced by the leadership of Secretary Clinton who consistently underscores the simple truth that LGBT rights are human rights.”

 Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

“The United States showed extraordinary global leadership today by affirming the dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world. It is what we would hope for — and expect from — our country.  The presidential memorandum is the first-ever U.S. government strategy dedicated to combating the abuse of LGBT people abroad. History is being made, but more importantly, lives will be improved and even saved.  We applaud the president for this monumental step forward, and thank Secretary Clinton for taking to the world stage to send the unequivocal message that LGBT people everywhere should be able to live freely and with dignity.”