A Bill that I Can Stand Behind...

and, no. I don't mean Clinton.

Just a few months back, March 26th to be exact, two female House Representatives, introduced the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young, EARLY, Act of 2009. In a bra cup, it's object of this Act is "to increase awareness of the risks of breast cancer in young women, and to provide support for those diagnosed with breast cancer."

Women fighting for the lives, education, health and empowerment of other women. Of course there was much controversy over it! Let the 'experts,' protests, and breast health myths begin.

One such 'expert' was quoted as stating,

"I leave politics to the politicians, why can't they leave science to the scientists? Except for family history, there are no important risks ... for women younger than 40."

What?!?!?!

:::Rubs eyes:::

Did I just read that? There are no important risks for younger women other than family history?!?! Have we learned nothing in all these years of breast cancer research? Are we really still at the place in thinking that our behaviors place no impact on our long term health. Scary!

Look. Speaking as someone with a family history, one that was a young diagnosis as well, I also have taken the time to educate myself and acknowledge the fact that it is not family history alone that dictates a woman's risk for breast cancer. Alcohol consumption, diet, tobacco use, and exercise are just some of the other known behavioral factors, not to mention environmental factors. No, these aren't fun to think about...in fact, they are all huge bummers. How fun would it be to not give two thoughts about what we eat, drink, smoke, and breathe? But the fact of the matter is, we have to. Well, we don't HAVE to...but I do, because I wanna stick around to be queer and fabulous for as long as possible! So, please don't let these uninformed, woman-hating 'leaders' fool you. And more importantly, don't let them dictate your health care policy!

Thanks for letting me rant. =)

Study: Parental Rejection of Gay Kids is "Harmful" To Health

In News of the Obvious, a study published in the academic journal Pediatrics has found that when parents reject their children's lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) sexual orientations, these children are more likely to have negative health problems.

Specifically, the study assessed parental and caregiver reactions to lesbian, gay, and bisexual sexual orientations on a quantitative scale. The study also measured "9 negative health indicators, including mental health, substance abuse, and sexual risk" and found that "higher rates of family rejection were significantly associated with poorer health outcomes." Most disturbingly the study found that LGB youth experiencing high levels of parental rejection were 8 times more likely to have tried to commit suicide than those experiencing little or not parental rejection.

That this study found a clear link between parental rejection and negative health outcomes is not surprising to many of us within the LGBT community. How can we, as a society, believe that telling millions of LGB people that there is something fundamentally wrong with homosexuality and that we should, therefore, reject this innate part of ourselves will result in good mental and physical health?

What we should be rejecting is bigotry and ignorance. In fact, most evidence shows that it's harmful not to.