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Health Happens Here

In light of the 2016 Presidential Election, it is more important than ever that Equality California continues to advocate for healthcare access for all.  We are prepared to defend the Affordable Care Act, which brings vital health coverage to thousands in our community who are otherwise ineligible because of HIV status or pre-existing conditions. We will continue to #Fight4OurHealth and work diligently in 2017 as the new members of Congress and the new Administration get to work.

If you are interested in joining the fight to defend the ACA, please sign up for our email alerts and follow EQCA on Facebook and Twitter.

We must ensure the new Congress and Administration understand the grave consequences of repealing the Affordable Care Act without a comprehensive, sensible replacement plan. If you or someone you know is part of the LGBT community and have benefited from the ACA, please share your story here.

You can send a letter to your Congressional representative urging them to maintain access to quality, affordable healthcare for us all.

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Health Happens with Equality

In a post-marriage equality landscape, Equality California expanded our mission statement to include advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through our groundbreaking program “Health Happens with Equality,” we are educating, mobilizing and advocating for increased access to quality, affordable healthcare for all LGBT Californians.

Advocate

We advocate for expanded healthcare coverage options for all LGBT Californians, regardless of immigration status. In 2016 Equality California successfully advocated for the expansion of Medi-Cal to undocumented youth under 19. We continue to advocate for expanded coverage options for all.

 

Mobilize

We mobilize the LGBT population on specific actions to ensure healthcare coverage not only remains intact, but also continues to be expanded for the most vulnerable members of our community.

 

Educate

We educate our members on their healthcare coverage options and on the importance of expanding healthcare for undocumented and low-income individuals. Additionally, we educate healthcare providers on the importance of creating a welcoming environment for their LGBT patients and clients.

Equality California Institute has created a successful, in-person model of LGBT cultural competency trainings designed to empower community clinics and healthcare organizations to serve provide respectful, culturally sensitive care to their LGBT patient population. Our curriculum includes basic LGBT terminology, data on health disparities that affect the LGBT community, intersectionality within the LGBT community, HIV/AIDS, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), transgender health issues and how to create a welcoming environment.

Here at Equality California we believe it is the responsibility of the provider to create a welcoming, respectful environment for their LGBT patients and clients.  We are working towards a future where every member of our diverse LGBT population can access quality healthcare and bring their open and honest self to their provider.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • While California continues to lead the nation in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), studies show that many LGBT people still do not access medical care due to a lack of cultural competency of medical and mental health providers.
  • LGBT Americans report lower well-being in the following five areas: financial security, physical health, social life, sense of purpose and community attachment.
  • According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey “23% of respondents did not see a doctor when they needed to because of fear of being mistreated as a transgender person.”
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 10% of all same-sex couples in America live in rural communities and are more likely to face economic insecurity and increased barriers to accessing healthcare.
  • While undocumented youth under age 19 are eligible for Medi-Cal, millions of undocumented adults are unable to access health insurance.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

  • Are you interested in learning more about increasing access to quality healthcare for California’s diverse LGBT population? Please sign up for our email updates.
  • Like and follow EQCA on Facebook and Twitter. Share our posts with your friends and followers.
  • Are you a healthcare provider interested in providing an LGBT cultural competency training to your staff or organization? Please contact robbie@eqca.org. Additionally, consider partnering with your local LGBT organization to build a welcoming environment for your LGBT patients and clients.

Additional health programs include:

 

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