Aside from HIV/AIDS, health issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population are not likely to show up in research and lesson plans offered at schools of public health across the nation, according to a June study in APHA's American Journal of Public Health.
While 41 percent of the 102 schools that responded to mailed questionnaires, reported having at least one faculty member who was conducting research on an issue related to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender health, the majority of the research was on HIV/AIDS. In addition, fewer than 9 percent of the departments had offered a course covering lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender health topics in the previous two years, other than courses on HIV/AIDS. The majority of schools include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policy, but fewer than 50 percent offered domestic partner health insurance benefits to same-sex partners of faculty, staff and students.
Previous studies have shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are at increased risk for some health problems, such as substance use and being victims of violence. APHA policy urges educational institutions to support efforts to improve the health of the population. (Page 1,023)
