“Taking pride in health.” That sounds sort of nebulous, doesn’t it?
Might it mean being vocal about your exercise regimen? Sure.
Could it mean engaging in healthy eating with friends and family. Certainly.
Maybe it means being proud of the ways in which you take care of yourself? That, too.
As an LGBTQ person (a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community), my health concerns are in most ways the same as everyone else’s. There are differences in particular health concerns, sure, but it’s the historical relationship between the healthcare system and my community that characterizes how I think about LGBTQ health.
Historically, LGBTQ people have not been affirmed in healthcare settings. The result is learned mistrust, with people less likely to seek care in the future. Over time, this results in health inequity, differences in health outcomes between groups. We see, for example, higher rates of tobacco use, mental illness, chaotic substance use, and infectious disease diagnoses within the community.
Knowing this, I could choose to assume a bleak outlook. But I know a lot of other things, too.
I know that within the past year, a group of Harford County Health Department staff members received LGBTQ competency training. I know that many of our programs have revised our forms to be inclusive of LGBTQ people. I know that we have a PrEP program that strives to meet all clients where they’re at and affirm them for who they are. I know that we have LGBTQ clients that continue to see us because they’ve had positive experiences with our nurses and providers.
I know that the Harford County Health Department is not alone in working to more effectively serve LGBTQ people and achieve health equity for my community. Local health departments, private providers, hospitals, and community health centers across the U.S. are doing the same. While our efforts aren’t perfect, we continue to push forward because we believe that health and wellness should be accessible to everyone, regardless their race, ethnicity, national origin, faith, age, sex, ability, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender presentation.
To me, taking pride in my health means acknowledging historical inequity. It means being a part of achieving equity. And it means showing up not just as a public health worker but as a member of the LGBTQ community at every step along the way.
June is LGBTQ Pride Month. This month and all others, I choose to take pride in my health.
– Zach Kosinski, Harford County Health Department
