Informative article about US Bisexual Health Study

The Washington Blade has a news article about a recent 143 page US Bisexual Health Study. The article focuses on the presumptions, assumptions, and downright prejudices the medical community and less educated doctors and nurses have about bisexual people. I was interviewed by the reporter via email, (i have one small quote towards the end of the article).

Even though I am very solid in my identity as a bisexual woman, it gets very nerve wrecking from time to time to reveal my sexual history to doctors and nurses, etc., because of some of their reactions. I had a doctor tell me "hmm, so i guess you're enjoying that whole college bisexual experimentation thing?", in response, I had nervous laughter and really didnt how to react otherwise. I find many other bisexual people have the same troubles (as shown in this article) about the troubles of outing themselves to their physicians and in return, not having these physicians judge you for who you are. Because of the stereotypes, ignorance, and the assumptions of bisexual people (sex craved addicts, going through a phase, etc.) the medical community is less likely to recongize bisexuality as a valid sexual orientation. Ths is not the case for everyone bi person, but in my own experiences and others' personal accounts to me, bi-phobia in the medical community exists.

Here is the article...
Bi health report challenges doctors
Better education, understanding sought for patients

By JOSHUA LYNSEN
Friday, March 23, 2007

Brad Brownfield is willing to tell just about anyone he’s bisexual — but not his doctor.

The 36-year-old photographer living in Memphis, Tenn., said nine months after he came out to his family and friends, he still hasn’t told his primary care physician.

“I’ve concealed my orientation because although he is the best doctor I’ve found, he is still in the military reserves and
I hesitate to reveal my orientation because I am afraid of compromising the level of care I may receive,” Brownfield said.

A new report from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force aims to help ease those jitters.

“Bisexual Health,” written by Marshall Miller and other sexual health educators, challenges physicians across the country to better understand bisexual health issues.

The 143-page report released last week — which includes physician tips and a rundown of the top bisexual health issues — is intended to end the fear and confusion that mainstream doctors exhibit toward bisexuals.

“It’s a huge problem,” Miller said. “But I think these issues can be solved through education. If you give people the tools to understand, then they can change the approach that they take to their clients.”

Among the top bisexual health issues, according to the report, are drug and alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety issues, and other wellness issues.

Miller, who is bisexual, said the report clearly and thoroughly explains bisexuality and the physical and mental health issues bisexual men and women face.

“Is this stuff covered in medical school? Not necessarily,” he said. “And I think our hope is that by starting the conversation, if we can get more people thinking and talking about this, then it shifts the bigger picture over time.”

Several bisexual men and women from around the country said the report was long overdue.

“We, as bisexuals, don’t even seem to exist or be recognized by the medical community,” said Maria Myrback, a 40-year-old bisexual woman living in Melbourne, Fla.

Sheela Lambert, a 50-year-old bisexual woman living in New York, agreed. She said a local clinic has ignored her repeated pleas to add brochures about bisexual health to its racks.

“No matter how many times over the years I have asked them to have info that covers all the bases,” she said, “they have never changed or added any literature, and brush me off when I make requests.”

Barbara Lewis, a lesbian and physician’s assistant at Whitman-Walker Clinic in D.C., said not all clinics so deliberately dismiss bisexual issues. Others inadvertently err through omission.

She said when patients don’t openly identify as bisexual, many physicians assume orientation based on the patient’s current or most recent partner.

“I think very often that mainstream providers don’t like to take a very good sexual history,” she said. “It makes them nervous.”

Samantha Korb, a 20-year-old bisexual woman living in Greensboro, N.C., said these physicians must ease their nerves by learning “how to deal with someone who is bisexual and their health needs.”

About 1.8 percent of men and 2.8 percent of women ages 18 to 44 identify as bisexual, according to the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth.

In addition to such statistics, Miller said the report offers many low-cost ways for clinics to integrate bisexual health issues into existing programs.

Among the suggestions are guidelines for creating health brochures, support groups and sex education programs that target or include bisexuals.

Many bisexuals said clinics should first purge any prejudices among physicians.

“Before we get to appropriate health care, we have to address the fact that medical and mental health professionals are still telling bisexual people that bisexuality doesn’t exist and that they have to pick a side — gay or straight — and stay there,” Lambert said.

Brownfield, who once heard a Mississippi health worker describe bisexuality as a “mental illness,” agreed.

“First, understand and accept the fact that bisexuality does exist, and it is a valid, very real sexual orientation,” he said. “Second, lose your preconceived notions. Do not assume that a bisexual person is not or cannot be monogamous.”

Bob Hattoy's speech at the 1992 DNC Convention

From Democrats.org ....
Over the weekend, noted activist Bob Hattoy, who in addition to being a tireless advocate for a number of causes, became the first openly gay person with HIV to speak to a national audience when he gave a primetime address to the 1992 Democratic National Convention, passed away.

Governor Dean:

"This weekend, America lost a true champion for justice. Aside from being a fierce advocate on causes ranging from LGBT rights and HIV issues, to civil liberties and the environment, Bob Hattoy was a wonderfully charming man with a tremendous sense of humor. Most of all, Bob was a friend and mentor to so many. Through Bob's life and service to our country, we are all reminded of the need to do more to encourage greater participation of all Americans, including gays and lesbians, in our political process. Bob will be missed. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and loved ones."

I urge all of you to listen to his speech and to not stop caring about HIV/AIDS and to not stop caring about ensuring that all LGBTQI people, not just queer Americans, can lead, healthy and happy lives.

Let's not keep these issues under the rug. Health issues to the LGBTQI community are as important as ever these days. With the increasing rates of drug and alcohol abuse in the LGBTQI community, it is important we educate others about the increasing risks of the abuse of these substances and offer alternatives to the community besides clubbing and bar hopping (i.e.-volunteering and giving a damn about each other, actually establishing community). With the increasing rates of STDs and HIV/AIDS amongst my peers, not just the queer community, it is important we bring forth awareness of how to protect ourselves and to exact change in the blindless policies of abstinence only and abstinence plus sex education in our K-12 schools.

Ann Coulter: John Edwards = Faggot

I've never been a fan of her, never. But I do have friends that are fans of her, but I ask, how can you be a fan of her after this?



I have never supported Ann Coulter because she offers nothing intellectual to contribute to the political discourse. And I have read her columns and heard her comments over the years, and they have all bothered me greatly. She categorizes liberals as terrorists and anyone outside of her view just can piss off to her.

But calling John Edwards a faggot, that hits a new low. Not because it was a slur I've seen recently defaced on my Safe Zone award, but more importantly, she is using the media in a way that she has never done before, she is reaching the depths of desperation. The Democrats have taken control of Congress and John Edwards could possibly be President, so therefore she will use what she has always used best (and in my view, worst) adding to the American political atmosphere. The way we talk in America is not in a cilivized discourse. Pundits represent what is really wrong with American politics. Nothing to contribute but name-calling and yelling.

The fact that there were claps at this Convention when she said this, worries me. Sure, I do not agree with a lot of what the Republican party stands for, but I am going to call someone a 'fag' or any slur or label we use to put somedown because I am shaking in my boots about them taking power? NO.

But watch the video and tell me, is using a slur on a presidental candidate at a widely publicized Conservative convention something we should value? Someone we should buy books from? Someone we should glorify because she says some bat-shit crazy things (or rather does not think before she speaks)?

To me, she offers nothing to debate about. She stopped any debate long ago when she called liberals godless and terrorists. When she calls John Edwards a fag, you can't respond to her because she is acting like the kid in middle school who doesn't like you because you're not friends with them, so they call you a name.

Forgive sounds good, forget, I'm not sure I could

They say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting...

Taking the Long Way Around...The Dixie Chicks get what they deserve

"No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots."
-- Barbara Ehrenreich

My Dixie Chicks, the best selling female group of all time, and one of the best groups period swept the Grammy Awards tonight. All the 5 Grammys they were nominated for, they won.

Best Album of the Year- Taking the Long Way Around
Best Record of the Year-I'm not ready to make nice
Best Song of the Year-I'm not ready to make nice
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group-Not ready to make nice
Best Country Album-Taking the Long Way Around

I have been a fan of the Chicks for 8 years now, and even more of a fan since the 'controversy' of Natalie Maines' Bush comments. I supported them then, I support them now and I will continue to support them till they are no more. Not only is their music amazing, but they are talented, outspoken, and women I truly admire. Regardless of whether country music is your cup of tea or not, sip this cup of tea and gave their music a listen.

I feel these Grammys are not the Dixie Chicks' Grammys, but ours as well. The fans that stood by them through the insults, death threats, and pains of those 3 years that the Chicks and those supporting them had to endure. This is also about America, at its core. We hear that freedom isn't free. Maybe it isn't, maybe there is always going to be a consequence. But you know what, I have that right to speak my mind, stand up for what is right and support the Dixie Chicks in their times of lacking ticket sales and non-existent radio play and when they are recognized for the works they make, as were tonight. I could never be more proud of my Chicks as I am tonight.

If you haven't picked up a copy of the Best Album of the Year, I suggest you do so. Taking The Long Way is an album rich of not only amazing musical caliber, but incredible lyrics and insights into the Dixie Chicks and their lives, joys and struggles. It is worth the $10 off of Itunes, it is worth the $10-$12 on Amazon, or wherever you buy albums. It is worth the money and the time.

When youtube and other video sites start posting Grammy acceptance speeches and/or Grammy performances, I will post them. Right now, I am still escatic about all of this. The Chicks deserved every single Grammy they won.

The Vagina Monologues are back!

After some amazing performances last year, the Vagina Monologues are back this year at UNCG. After seeing it twice last year (once for my own enjoyment, the other one for an article for the Carolinian, the UNCG student run newspaper), I must say I am very excited about this year's performances. I know a few people who are going to be in the Monologues, so I look forward to seeing them and the show overall.

The Vagina Monologues will be showing Friday, February 9th at 7:30pm and Saturday on 2pm and 7:30pm. All of these performances will be held in EUC Auditorium. If you are not on campus and do not know where it is, here are the directions to the EUC.

In the EUC, on the main floor, the auditorium is next to the Information Desk.

For those who have not heard and/or seen the Vagina Monologues, I strongly encourage you all to see it! To those who have seen it before, go again, this time with new faces and new takes on the monologues.

The Vagina Monologues are sponsored by the Women and Gender Studies department at UNCG. The event is free, but they will be taking suggested donations of $5 for the Clara House, a domestic violence shelter in the Greensboro area for women and children. However, any amount helps.

Call 336-334-5673 for more information.

Also for more information on the history of the Vagina Monologues and how it came to be, check out V-Day website.

Hope to see you all there!

Judy Shepard at UNC

Tonight, Matt, Brittany and I went to UNC to see Judy Shepard (Matthew Shepard's mother) speak. We left late and got there right around 7, thank goodness they started late. Judy Shepard is an amazing speaker, she doesnt speak from a set list of things, but she speaks from the heart.

The only thing she read was her statement to the court after Russell Henderson changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. They were going to have his trial start on April 5th, 1999, but since he restated his plea, the sentencing for that new plea began. Judy read her statement from the court that day. It brought us back to a time, soon after the fact that Matt was dead (October 12, 1998), and it brought tears to everyone around us. Then she just spoke like it is. She talked about what is necessary for us to work towards fighting the good fight. Talking openly and honestly about who we are without shame, regret, or fear. We can bridge differences with words, hugs, and our actions. For someone who isn't a professional speaker, she gave me and the crowd, a reason to believe again.

There are many times over the last year and a half where I became disgruntled, upset and disappointed over the things I couldn't accomplish. But in my years as someone outspoken and honest about who they are, my words, however small they may seem, make a difference. My letter to the editor against Jason Crawford's words of hate last week, along with the articles (once posted on the Carolinian website, I will post) printed in this week's edition of the Carolinian showed that UNCG queer folk and their allies do not take this lightly. We will not accept, tolerate or condone this behavior as our own. As Mrs. Shepard said herself, hate is a learned action, no one is born to hate, but we learn it. We must overcome those biases we have and work together to see common ground, as human beings. We bleed, we hope and we love all the same, isn't that what it is all about?

What happened to the common rule my friends? Where did we lose our respect for others, how did this world become so muddled with fear of standing up for what's right? Well, I'll tell you what, lately, I've lived in fear, I can't do that anymore. I have to fight for what's right, no matter how hard it gets, because it's the good fight, simple as that. Judy Shepard inspired, touched me, moved me and motivated me to become more than I have ever been.

Some may see Matthew Shepard being a martyr for a cause, I do not. There are many Matthews in the world, we just do not see them everyday, the news doesn't report them, they think we do not care. Let's learn from the past and let's push forward as one.