NWPA Pride Alliance President Encourages Community to Participate in 2022 PA LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment

By Alex Sphon President NWPA Pride Alliance

NWPA Pride Alliance is proud to be part of a coalition of LGBTQIA+ organizations collecting responses for the 2022 PA LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment.

Northwest Pennsylvania is home to thousands of LGBTQIA+ residents, and the state of Pennsylvania has become a leader in measuring disparities impacting our community's wellness. Since 2015, a growing network of LGBTQIA+ organizations have helped collect data about our community's health needs and barriers to care.

In 2020, the largest and most diverse sample yet was collected from 6,582 Pennsylvanians across more than 900 zip codes. But the goal is to engage even more people this year!

More than one in three LGBTQIA Pennsylvanians (35.4%) do not believe most of their healthcare providers have medical expertise related to their health needs as an LGBTQIA person. "As a physician, I've seen the health consequences of neglecting a patient's needs; as a policy maker, I've seen the cost of creating policies that are uninformed; and as a transgender woman, I've felt the burden of other's ignorance," U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine has said.

Personally, I remember trying to get my Primary Care Physician to schedule regular HIV/STI testing and prescribe Prep to back in 2016. I was able to work with my doctor to help her get the needed education. This took months and many appointments. I have been able to advocate for myself but many in the Queer community are able to or don't have access to the need resources to do so.

Beginning January 10th, 2022, this coalition will be collecting data for the 2022 Pennsylvania LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment. The anonymous survey is available in English and Spanish, and those who complete it have the option to be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card afterwards. Special efforts are being made to encourage participation from underrepresented parts of our community including LGBTQIA+ youth, older adults, people of color, members of rural communities, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. We hope to promote a better understanding of the unique experiences of members throughout the LGBTQIA+ community across Pennsylvania.

Every person who completes the survey will be helping fuel community-based programs designed to close gaps in service and address health disparities. Together, we will build a stronger, healthier community.

Take the time to raise your voice for LGBTQIA+ health and be entered in a raffle to win a gift card now at bit.ly/2022PANA. Puedes participar en español aquí: bit.ly/2022PANA_S.

Please help me make sure NWPA is represented in this year's data by taking a few moments to complete this survey.