RU12? Community Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Vermont

6 Degrees: Innovative Testing Network

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What is 6 Degrees?

It can be hard getting through the door to get an HIV test. There are many reasons why people will put off getting tested. But when someone they know reaches out and supports them in getting tested, taking this important step becomes easier to do. Often people have thought about getting tested and just need a little outside encouragement and support to move forward. That’s where the 6 Degrees project comes in.

6 Degrees is a project where Vermonters who are connected to friends, peers and acquaintances at risk of becoming HIV positive (like having unprotected sex or sharing needles) volunteer to become Community Advocates who reach out to their circles and encourage folks to get tested. This non-judgemental peer support, and the support from a network of testers, makes it easier for people to come in for testing and find out what their HIV status is.

 

Why is it important to get tested for HIV?

HIV can have a major impact on someone’s health. Many people will not have any symptoms (like getting ill more often) for 11 years after they’ve become HIV-positive, and 1 in 5 people who are living with HIV don’t realize it. The sooner someone gets tested and knows their HIV status, the sooner they can take steps to keep themselves and their partners healthier for longer. 

 

What do I get out of it?

If you become a Community Advocate, you will receive gift cards, credit towards your bills, and other incentives of your choice worth $25 for each person at risk of becoming HIV-positive that you refer who comes in for a test. For example, you could earn up to $250 towards an iPad or an electric bill. You will also be a part of a new, exciting project that breaks down barriers for our friends and community, helping those we know and care about to stay healthier and informed. 

 

Who runs the 6 Degrees project?

The RU12? Community Center, an organization that celebrates, educates and advocates with and for LGBTQ Vermonters has partnered with the Comprehensive Care Clinics, a system of four clinics providing state-of-the-art treatment for all stages of HIV/AIDS. These two organizations work together to:

• Recruit Community Advocates
• Support the advocates in connecting with their communities
• Provide anonymous HIV testing to the people in the Community Advocates' social circles

 

How do I get involved?

If you’re interested in becoming a Community Advocate, contact Mike Bensel or Jean-Denis Couillard at the RU12? Community Center by calling (802) 860-7812 or emailing 6degrees@ru12.org. You can also contact Deb Kutzko at the Comprehensive Care Clinic by calling (802) 847-4594. We will set up an interview with you where you can learn more about the program and make sure it’s a good fit for you.

 

 

Trans* Vermonters Gain Equal Access To Health Care

Press Release

April 26, 2013

New Health Insurance Bulletin Clarifies Access to

Health Care for Transgender Vermonters

 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jean-Denis Couillard, Health and Wellness Coordinator

RU12? Community Center

802-860-7812 trans@ru12.org

 

The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), Division of Insurance, this week, issued a bulletin clarifying key protections for transgender people in Vermont. The bulletin provides a clear directive to insurers that health care plans may not exclude coverage for medically necessary services for transgender people, including gender reassignment surgery.

 

The bulletin rests on key protections in law prohibiting gender identity discrimination, as well as the important and controlling standard of medical necessity regularly enforced by DFR rule. Insurance companies must comply with the terms of the bulletin, and new insurance policy forms filed by insurers will not be approved if they exclude gender transition related care.  The bulletin will impact a wide range of plans purchased by individuals and employers in Vermont, but does not regulate self-insured employer plans, which will continue to be subject to federal law.

 

“This is an important clarification of Vermont law.  Many health insurance plans categorically exclude gender-transition related care for no reason other than stigma and bias, and that is wrong,” said Corey Mallon, member of the Vermont Equal Care Coalition, a coalition of community organizations and individuals who advocated for the trans-inclusive reform in health insurance coverage.  “There is no principled reason for denying a transgender employee medically necessary health care.”

 

This bulletin confirms that discrimination against transgender people, including discrimination perpetuated by unfair insurance coverage, is against Vermont public policy. The bulletin states that “DFR is committed to ensuring that Vermonters do not face discrimination in accessing medically necessary health care benefits, including those based on gender identity and gender dysphoria. This is both a simple question of fairness and a matter addressed by existing insurance law and DFR regulation.”

 

“This bulletin is a momentous achievement, an achievement that rests not only on the work of the Equal Care Coalition, but on years of extraordinary efforts of many people in Vermont, and indeed across the country. We are extremely pleased that yet another barrier to receiving quality health care has fallen.  Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals is proud to be part of the Equal Care Coalition, the group that helped bring this over the finish line”, said Mari Cordes RN, President of Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals.

 

“Vermont joins a growing number of states in ensuring that transgender people are able to get the care they need, when they need it. Data shows that eliminating discriminatory insurance exclusions does not drive up costs, and is invaluable for helping transgender people lead healthy and authentic lives,” added Andrew Cray, a policy analyst with the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the, Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. California, Oregon, Colorado, and the District of Columbia have released guidance recognizing that equal access to health coverage is supported by medical science, improves the health of transgender people, and does not increase costs. Ending arbitrary insurance discrimination against transgender people simply supports what expert medical professional organizations including the American Medical Association, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and others have been saying for years: transition-related health care is medically necessary for many transgender individuals whose health and well-being depends on bringing their physical body into alignment with their gender identity, and determination of what care an individual patient needs properly rests with medical providers, not insurance companies.

 

Read the full bulletin here -  http://www.dfr.vermont.gov/sites/default/files/Bulletin_174.pdf

 

Frequently Asked Questions – http://www.ru12.org/bulletin_faq.html

Herbal Workshop on Transgender Health

Relay For Life- Rainbow Edition!

Be a part of an exciting new movement!

The American Cancer Society is proud to announce a groundbreaking new movement in the fight against cancer. Introducing Relay For Life- Rainbow Edition; an event for and by the LGBTQ community geared towards highlighting disparities in cancer and raising money to fight back!

Relay For Life is a 12 hour, overnight event where participants form teams and camp around a track taking turns walking all night, in honor of the concept that “cancer never sleeps”. This fun, family friendly event is coming specifically to the LGBTQ community in order to honor those lost, celebrate those surviving, and learn how to fight back against the disease and its disparities in our community. Scheduled for the summer of 2013, your American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers to be a part of this exciting new venture by becoming part of the planning team. For more information on how to get involved email Claire Giroux-Williams at Claire.girouxwilliams@cancer.org or call 802-872-6321. You can also visit our Facebook Page.

Trans Town Hall on Health Care Tomorrow

Tomorrow at 6:30p join us for the 5th Trans Town Hall, this time focusing on health care, at the McClure Multigenerational Center in Burlington.

In this much anticipated Trans* Town Hall, trans people and allies are invited to come together to explore one of the most common experiences shared among trans* people: accessing health care and, for some, taking steps to medically transition. What are some of the 'nuts and bolts' of medically transitioning? What have been some of the challenges we've faced? How do we address these and advocate for ourselves with medical providers? Dr. Rachel Inker, who leads the Transgender Health Clinic of the Community Health Center of Burlington (www.chcb.org) will join us to provide medical information on gender transition. Transgender Educator and Advocate Samuel Lurie, M.Ed., will help attendees to build skills for self-advocating with health care providers (www.tgtrain.org).

Trans Town Halls, including this one, are held every first Thursday of the month at 6:30pm at the McClure Multigenerational Center in Burlington (241 N Winooski Ave). They are a unique opportunity for trans* people and allies to come together, build relationships, and discuss issues impacting trans* Vermonters and our friends, families, partners, and allies. It's been fantastic to connect with others in the community who've been able to come out to the previous Town Halls.

I hope to see you there!

GEN Silent movie about LGBT Elders available for free home screening

Last May, RU12?'s LGBT Elders Program teamed up with community partners Champlain Valley Area Health Education Cener (CVAHEC) and the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging (CVAA) to present a screening of the film GEN Silent, about several LGBT aging Americans and their struggle to feel comfortable being/remaining out in the context of getting older and accessing elders-specific services. This was one of several GEN Silent screenings statewide throughout the month of May.

Our screening was a remarkable success, with more than 100 folks coming out on a Wednesday evening for the film and following panel discussion, in order to bring attention to the issue as well as identify viable next steps, including the development of cultural competency trainings for elders service providers. RU12? will be debuting this training system this spring in the NEK, but until then, the powerful film that kickstarted our local discussions is available for free home-viewing until January 1. Check it out here: GEN Silent, or contact jean@ru12.org for more information about RU12?'s new LGBT Elders training.