This week is National LGBT Health Awareness Week. SafeGuards encourages our community to Take Charge of Your Health!

LGBT People often experience chronic stress from homophobia, gender discrimination and stigma. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and a variety of physical ailments caused by stress to our immune systems. LGBT people have higher rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use–behaviors that may begin as a way of coping with chronic stress or that serve as a social bonding experience in our communities.

Did you know that lesbians have higher rates of breast and cervical cancer than heterosexual women? Did you know that trans men and trans women who use hormone therapy may develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other complications? Did you know that gay men are more likely to have body image and eating disorders than heterosexual men?

Regardless of why we are at risk for health issues, knowledge is our most powerful tool in keeping healthy. One way you can find out more about health issues that affect our community, as well as finding out more about resources in our community for your health is to attend the Washington West Project Open House, Thursday April 10th, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The Washington West Project, 1201 Locust Street, is partnership of ActionAIDS, GALAEI, Mazzoni Center and SafeGuards. Find out LGBT health services, talk to staff from the partner organizations, and check out the health information as you tour the space.