Equitas Health Launches 'We Are #Healthworthy' for Pride Month
Campaign Promotes LGBTQ+ People's Right to Affirming Healthcare
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Pride Month, Equitas Health launches its "We Are #Healthworthy" public awareness campaign, with a series of videos to be released on social media over the course of the month. The LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare and social service agency will also bring the "We Are #Healthworthy" message to 22 Pride festivals across Ohio and into Kentucky and West Virginia.
"'#Healthworthy' is where Pride and who we are as a healthcare agency serving the LGBTQ+ community intersect," said CEO Bill Hardy. "There are many ways to celebrate being proud of one's self as an LGBTQ+ person; one of those ways is to take care of our health," Hardy said. "However, before we can set health goals, before we can engage in care, before we can get tested or schedule a mammogram or commit to using prevention methods, we must first believe ourselves worthy of health."
The #Healthworthy campaign is a response to societal barriers that keep LGBTQ+ people from believing they are worthy of affirming healthcare—barriers that cause new patients and clients to arrive at Equitas Health unable to fully attend to their health and well-being. Internalized homophobia and transphobia keep LGBTQ+ people from recognizing their own self-worth. Additionally, research shows that due to past negative experiences with healthcare providers, LGBTQ+ people delay primary and preventative care, and as a result, have poorer health outcomes. Due to stigma, many in the LGBTQ+ community struggle to maintain stable housing, income, insurance, personal safety, and basic needs, which leaves them with little time, resources, or attention for maintaining health.
At Equitas Health, we start with affirming each person's identity. Our patients and clients must understand they are worthy of quality, affordable, affirming care before they can begin to identify health goals or to take action to nurture their well-being.
The "We Are #Healthworthy" videos feature members of Ohio's LGBTQ+ community, saying what they are worthy of. Some examples include: I am worthy of my pronouns; I am worthy of a mammogram; I am worthy of a confident smile; I am worthy of a body that aligns with my gender; I am worthy of safe, hot sex; and I am worthy of affirming healthcare.
To watch the feature video of the campaign and learn more about being #Healthworthy, visit equitashealth.com.
ABOUT EQUITAS HEALTH:
Established in 1984, Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio), is a regional not-for-profit community-based healthcare system and federally qualified community health center look-alike. Its expanded mission has made it one of the nation's largest HIV/AIDS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) healthcare organizations. With 17 offices in 11 cities, it serves more than 67,000 individuals in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia each year through its diverse healthcare and social service delivery system focused around: primary and specialized medical care, community pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, HIV/STI prevention, advocacy, and community health initiatives. In 2019, the Buckeye Regional Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) became a part of Equitas Health.
The Equitas Health Pharmacy operates as a social enterprise for Equitas Health; 100% of profits are reinvested back into the organization's programs and services. Prizm Magazine and its companion website, prizmnews.com, is a division of Equitas Health.
For more information, visit equitashealth.com or find them on Facebook or Twitter.
CONTACT:
Kim Schuette–614-987-5239
[email protected]
SOURCE Equitas Health
Related Links
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article