Advocacy

LILCI envisions institutionalization of accountability to LGBT populations and ultimately, an elimination of health disparities through the delivery of culturally competent health and human services that reduces interlocking oppressions. LILCI advocates for compliance with public health recommendation intended to eliminate health disparities. This includes providing services and entitlements that are sensitive and/or specific to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; instituting nondiscrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; and capturing demographic data relevant to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Studies have taught us that individual health is closely linked to community health - the health of the community and the environment in which individuals live, work and play. Likewise, community health is profoundly affected by actions, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of everyone in the community. 1

Some of LILCI’s successes include

• Full day cultural competency training to administrators & facilitators of Long Island’s Smoking Cessation programs; advocating for the inclusion of sexual orientation among demographic data collection for these programs; as well as creating an LGBT specific campaign in partnership with the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island.
  
  
• Technical Assistance for regional HHS provider around institutionalizing non-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. Until 2002, none of the regional cancer coalitions surveyed by LILCI had such policies.
  
  
• LILCI represents the non-HIV related health & wellness issues of Long Island’s LGBT communities, within the following HHS networks:
  • Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island
  • SUNY Stonybrook CEO’s Health Advisory Council on Underserved Populations
  • Women’s Health Partnership of Suffolk County (includes East End Outreach Committee)
  • New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network
  • National Coalition for LGBT Health
  • Annual community building conference for Long Island’s LGBT communities, Steering Committee*
  • New York City Lesbian Cancer Consortium*

  *LILCI is among the founding members

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Research

LGBT health is emerging as a national health concern because of a growing body of evidence of health disparities experienced by LGBT communities.  The initiation and ongoing development of a response to the healthcare needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and intersex persons is of utmost importance.

Health disparities are determined and measured by three health statistics – incidence (the number of new diagnoses), mortality (the number of deaths), and survival rates (length of survival). Health disparities occur when one community has a higher incidence or mortality rate than another, or when survival rates are less for one community than another. 2

Research can measure progress and provide evidence that a certain condition exists or certain results have or have not been achieved. 3

With appropriate safeguards, research that includes sexual orientation, gender identity & gender expression, encourages a significant degree of empowerment.  4

Impact of research inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity may include

• Opportunity for increased access and more culturally competent care
  
  
• Improve likelihood of increased quality and years of healthy life
  
  
• Facilitate the elimination of health disparities for LGBT communities
  
  
• Creation of new approaches and dedicated resources
  
  
• Potentially substantive changes in the health and human services infrastructure. 5

Often health issues most relevant to a community are not successfully captured due to lack of connection between researchers and community members.  In response to the lack of infrastructure for strong communication between researchers and community members, links to ongoing community based initiatives and ongoing studies which
include sexual orientation and/or gender identity are below:

Ongoing community based initiatives and studies that include sexual orientation and/or gender identity can be found here

How LILCI utilizes research data.

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Services

Heterosexual women seek health care for their reproductive and birth control concerns. Since these are not issues for most lesbians, these cues for routine exams are often missed.

In addition, when lesbians do seek health care, bias and ignorance are often encountered. Even routine health exams may be stressful or embarrassing when confronted with a health care provider who feels threatened by sexuality and becomes uncomfortable, defensive, dismissive or hostile.

These barriers come at a price. Studies note lesbians are more likely to discover cancer at a later, more dangerous stage of the disease than heterosexual women. © LCCP used with permission

Until there is a cure, it is our wish that no one has to face the challenge of cancer on their own.

We know it is often difficult to ask for help. We value our privacy and independence, but dealing with cancer is tough. Daily routines become difficult. The right kind of help and support can make a huge difference in the energy you will have to meet the challenges you face. If you or your partner has been diagnosed with cancer, LILCI is ready to help you face the challenge.

• Support services for persons with cancer, their caregivers & bereavement services.
  



• Half day retreats semi-annually includes brunch, support services and a hands-on workshop with a professional guest on holistic self-care.
• Peer Network support services
  • online (available 24/7)
  • telephone based
• Cancer and bereavement specific list serves
  
  
• Legal Clinic: Assists with will, health care proxy and power of attorney. Volunteer attorneys consult on a wide variety of legal issues including help to those who have been victims of discrimination and providing screened referrals. Offered throughout Long Island.
  
  
• Re/Search Referrals: Volunteers help identify services and entitlements unrelated to LILCI’s services and Re/Source database.

I'm interested in LILCI services
Email: info@lilci.org

I'd like to volunteer with LILCI
Email: info@lilci.org
or contact:

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Additional services available for LGBT community members:

• Legal Clinic: Campaign to increase access to medical-legal documents like the health care proxy. Offered by volunteer attorneys at rotating locations throughout Long Island.
  
  
• Out To Quit/Smoking Cessation: Outreach and Educational materials specifically for LGBT communities. Clean Indoor Air law compliance kits for bars and nightclubs. LGBT sensitive services offered in association with the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island.
  
  
• Re/Source Referrals: Professional resources designated by their cultural competence in LGBT health disparities. These include professional recipients of LILCI’s cultural competency trainings, those with linkage agreements to LILCI, referred by community members or self-referred.
  • Email: info@lilci.org
    
    
• Prevention and Early Detection (In development): A culturally specific campaign for LGBT identified individuals with breast and/or cervical tissue connected with low and no cost cancer screenings.
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"LILCI has worked to positively impact issues surrounding health and wellness in our communities since 2000."