Stuff and Thinks

sailedon:

So, my best friend and I had a conversation about being an ally. She was upset that U of L doesn’t have a group for LGBTQ allies and that she felt left out when she came to the Intersection last year. I found it so difficult to explain that it wasn’t her space (she’s cis and heterosexual) and that…

I think being a good ally is a process, not a label….and to me, the most important part of that process is learning to be in spaces/conversations/whatever that are not for you. Where you are welcome to hear, and to learn, and to laugh, and to help folks heal…but it is not for you.

If I want to be an ally to trans women, I have to be able to exist in their space without taking up their space. Does this make sense? (Its still hard but more like catnip to a cat??)

gaywrites:

Medical students may not be receiving the training they need to care for LGBT patients, according to a recent study.

A new survey of U.S. and Canada medical school deans found med schools spend an average of five hours total teaching LGBT-related health. As many as 33 percent provide no LGBT health information during clinical training, when students gain hands-on experience, and 4 percent provide no LGBT health training at all.

The number of hours spent on LGBT health does show a slight increase from previous years, but it’s hardly enough. The health issues taught range from mental health to risk of STDs among the gay community. 

“This survey confirms what we have said all along: Health professional training schools in general do not adequately address LGBT health needs,” said Hector Vargas, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, a nonprofit which aims to combat homophobia in the medical profession.

The Huffington Post article above has a lot more information about this new and important finding. Let’s hope enough people talk about this that we’ll see some changes soon. 

(via tjjourian)