2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week Social Media and Promotional Toolkit
The National Coalition for LGBT Health is pleased to provide the following Social Media and Promotional Toolkit to promote the 17th annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week, being held March 25-29. This year’s theme is “Reject Rhetoric. Reflect Reality. Our Health Won’t Be Denied!” Created in 2003 by the Coalition, the Week raises awareness of timely LGBT health issues.
2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week Theme
The theme of this year’s 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week, “Reject Rhetoric. Reflect Reality. Our Health Won’t Be Denied!“, acknowledges the ongoing rhetoric informing policies and practices attempting to ignore LGBT persons and undermine their health and well-being. These include ongoing efforts to deny LGBT persons health insurance, not include them in the U.S. Census, and bar transpersons’ use of public restroom facilities. These efforts drive the disparate rates of poverty, homelessness, and school dropout experienced by among many LGBT persons, creating barriers to culturally competent medical and behavioral health care.
Partners
The Coalition partners with organizations for National LGBT Health Awareness Week to raise awareness of LGBT health issues, including those related to their organization’s interests. This year, the Coalition is proud to disseminate important messages about LGBT health with the following organizations (to date) for National LGBT Health Awareness Week. If you would like to be listed as a partner, click here.
- Adolescent Health Initiative
- Advocates for Youth
- AIDS Alabama South, LLC
- AIDS Resource
- Alder Health Services
- Alliance for Positive Change
- Anthem, Inc.
- APNH: A Place to Nourish your Health
- AtlantiCare Health Systems, a member of Geisinger Health
- BEAM
- BiNet USA
- Center for STI Prevention, Maryland Department of Health
- Danya Institute
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
- DFW Fuse
- Empower U, Inc. (Community Health Center)
- Equality North Carolina
- Equitas Health Institute for LGBTQ Health Equity
- Haitian Centers Council Inc
- Kaiser Permanente
- Men’s Health Network
- Midway Specialty Care Center Wilton Manors
- Mount Sinai Health System
- Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California
- Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services
- Pathways to New Connections
- Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health
- Planned Parenthood of Central & Western New York
- Plumas County Public Health Agency
- Pridelines LGBT Community Center
- PROUD Family Health at RWJUH Somerset/RWJBarnabas Health
- Quest Diagnostics Pride Network
- SCCP @ University of Houston College of Pharmacy
- Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
- Tapestry
- Tarzana Treatment Centers
- University of Louisville 550 Clinic
- University of Louisville LGBT Center
- University of Texas Medical Branch student group Allies in Medicine
- USC Center for LGBT Health Equity
- VNACJ LGBTQ Center for Health & Wellness
- WeCanStopSTDsLA
- Williams & Associates, Inc
National LGBT Health Awareness Week Materials
The Coalition has created several high resolution images that can be used in online and printed pieces. These downloadable PDF files can be opened, edited, and resized as needed.
2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week Poster/Flyer
Click here to download the poster file. This high resolution file can be used for the following poster sizes:
- 11″ x 17″
- 24″ x 36″
2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week Sticker
Click here to download a high resolution version this 3″ round sicker for use in your own activities.
2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week Graphic
This graphic expands on the 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week theme. Click here to download this additional high-resolution image for your materials.
Below are pictures of the 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week materials in action at the 2019 National HIV Prevention Conference National Conference!
2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week poster shown at the Coalition’s exhibit booth.
Conference participants wear 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week stickers.
Social Media Tools and Images
The following tools and images can be used to enhance your 2019 LGBT Health Awareness week posts:
Facebook Frame
Promote the 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week by adding a frame to your organization’s profile picture on Facebook. Click here to access the frame.
Facebook Banner Image
Promote the 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week with this year’s Facebook banner, which can be accessed by clicking here.
Instagram Image
Feature the 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week on your Instagram feed. Click the image or hereto access the frame.
Twitter Image
Feature the 2019 National LGBT Health Awareness Week on your Twitter feed. Click the image or here to access the image.
#Hashtags
The following are hashtags the Coalition will use throughout the week on social media. Please use them in your own news releases, social media posts, and so on. Please be sure to tag the National Coalition for LGBT Health (@HealthLGBT).
- #RejectRhetoric
- #IRejectRhetoric
- #HealthLGBT
- #ReflectReality
- #LGBTHealthIsMyReality
- #ActionToAccess
- #LGBTHealthWeek
- #LGBTHealth
- #LGBTHealthFacts
- #KnowSTIs
- #StopSTIs
- #LGBTHealthAware
- #IReflectLGBTHealth
- #(InsertOrganizationHere)
IsLGBTHealth
Social Media Posts
Below are sample social media posts organized by topic for use throughout 2019 National LGBT Health Week:
Access to and Denial of Care
- 29% of trans people said a health care provider refused to see them because of their actual or perceived gender identity
- 12% of trans people said a doctor or health care provider refused to give them gender transition health care.
- LGBTQ people living outside metro areas report high rates of difficulty in accessing services.
- 18% of LGBTQ people say they have avoided going to a doctor or seeking health care out of concern that they would be discriminated against or treated poorly because of their LGBTQ identity
- The reality of healthcare for transgender individuals is that nearly half (48%) had to postponed treatment or went without care because they could not afford it. #LGBTHealthIsMyReality
- 31% of #gay and #bisexual men don’t have an identified provider for standard care #LGBTHealth #ActiontoAccess
- LGBT elders face barriers to health due to isolation, lack of social services #LGBTHealth
- Many health insurance plans have exclusions that deny #transgender individuals coverage for some services
- One survey found that 56% of LGBT people experience discrimination in healthcare #LGBTHealth
- 1 in 5 LGBT individuals withhold info about their sexual history from healthcare provider #LGBThealth #LGBTHealthHistory
STIs
- HPV most common STI, is a major cause of anal cancer. (MSM) are 20 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual men. #LGBTHealth #NoSTIs
- MSM account for 58% of new Syphilis cases and 20% of new Hepatitis B infections #LGBTHealth #NoSTIs
- Sexually active gay and bisexualshould get tested every 3-6 months for #STIs/ @CDCgov. #LGBTHealth
Youth
- 40% of homeless youth identify as #LGBT, many experience behavioral health issues, such as depression or substance use.
- #LGBT youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide.
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among #LGBTQ people aged 10–24. #LGBTHealth @TrevorProject is safe place to talk: 866-488-7386
- LGBTQ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than the general population.
- LGBTQ youth are 4 times more likely and questioning youth are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide, experience suicidal thoughts or engage in self-harm than heterosexual people. #LGBThealth
Behavioral Health
- 20-30% of LGBTQ+ people use substances, compared to 9% of the overall population
- Discrimination and stigma contribute to higher rates of mental illness among LGBT individuals. #LGBTHealth
- LGBT individuals are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, substance use. #LGBTHealth
- Lack of acceptance from family contributes to higher rates of mental illness, substance abuse among LGBT individuals #LGBTHealth
- LGBT youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide. @TrevorProject is a safe place to talk: 866-488-7386 #LGBTHealth
- #Bisexual men are more likely to have mental health issues compared to gay men #LGBTHealth
- #Bisexual men and women are more likely to smoke than all other men and women #LGBTHealth
- Smoking rates are higher for lesbian and bisexual women than heterosexual women #LGBTHealth
Transgender Health
- #Trans people experience barriers to care such as lack of insurance and trained providers
- 70% of transgender adults 65+ reported that they delayed their transition earlier in life in order to avoid discrimination in employment.
- 33% of #transgender individuals had a negative experience related to being transgender when seeking care
- 23% of #transgender individuals did not seek care due to fear of mistreatment
- 33% of #transgender individuals could not afford to see a healthcare provider #LGBTHealth
- 25% of #transgender individuals who sought coverage for hormones were denied #ActiontoAccess #LGBTHealthIsMyReality
- 56% of Black #transgender women are living with HIV #LGBTHealth #ActiontoAccess
- 55% of #Trans people who sought coverage for transition-related services were denied coverage #LGBTHealth
HIV
- 44% of gay men under 35 say they have never been tested for HIV.
- 56% of gay and bisexual men say that their doctors have never recommended an HIV test.
- Only 30% of #gay, #bisexual men were tested for HIV in past year. Find test location near you: locator.aids.gov. #LGBTHealth
- #Gay, #Bisexual, MSM accounted for 67% of new #HIV infections in 2016#LGBTHealth Find test location near you: locator.aids.gov. #LGBTHealth (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/
group/msm/index.html) - 28% of Transgender women live with HIV. Many do not know their status. Find testing locations near you: locator.aids.gov #
LGBTHealth - 90% of transgender women newly diagnosed w/ HIV are African American or Latina #LGBTHealth
- 1 in 6 #Gay and #Bisexual Men will get #HIV if current incidents rate continue. Expand access to #PrEP to #EndTheEpidemic #LGBTHealth
- 1 in 2 Black gay and bisexual men will be diagnosed with #HIV if current trends continue.
- Find a test location near you: locator.aids.gov. #LGBTHealth
- 1 in 4 Latino gay, bisexual men will be diagnosed with #HIV if current trends continue. Find a test location near you: locator.aids.gov. #LGBTHealth
- From 2005-2014: overall #HIV diagnoses decreased 19%, but increased 6% among #gay and #bisexual Black and Latino men
PrEP
- One study found that 55% of gay and bisexual teenagers were unaware of PrEP.
- Do you know about PrEP? Taken daily, PrEP reduces the risk of HIV by over 90%. Talk to your doctor about PrEP.
- #PrEP reduces the risk of HIV by over 90% when taken daily. learn more at #LGBTHealth
- One study found that 16.7% of MSM not on PrEP cited lack of insurance as the reason. #PrEP for #HIV can be $13K/yr w/o insurance. Tell Congress 24 million people deserve insurance. #LGBTHealth #ReflectReality
- One in three Primary Care Providers haven’t heard about #PrEP
Social Determinants of Health
- Homophobia isn’t the only type of discrimination impacting LGBT individuals – factors such as racism, sexism, and xenophobia hurt LGBT individuals as well #LGBThealth
- Social determinants of health like poverty and homelessness hurt #LGBTHealth, particularly #transgender individuals and communities of color
- LGBTQ+ youth make up 40% of the youth homeless population #ReflectReality
- #ACA prohibits discrimination against #LGBTHealth, yet approximately 100 Anti-LGBT bills are being introduced all over the country. Track this legislation here: https://www.aclu.org/
legislation-affecting-lgbt- rights-across-country
Physical Health
- Lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are more likely than heterosexuals to have poor cardiovascular health #LGBTHealth
- #Lesbians and #bisexual women are more likely to be overweight or obese #LGBTHealth
- #Lesbians have lower rates of breast and cervical cancer screenings compared to heterosexual women #LGBTHealth
- 44 percent of lesbians and 61 percent of bisexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, compared to 35 percent of heterosexual women #LGBTHealth
- 40 percent of gay men and 47 percent of bisexual men have experienced sexual violence other than rape, compared to 21 percent of heterosexual men
For more information, contact the National Coalition for LGBT Health at info@healthlgbt.org or (202) 232-6749.
