Augusta University to celebrate LGBT History Month and LGBTQ+ Health Awareness

As the campus community embraces the many celebrations of October, the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement, Student Counseling and Psychological Services, the College of Nursing, Lambda Alliance Student Organization, The Safe Zone Committee and several other groups across campus are working to spread awareness of what October means to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.

Since 1995, October has served as national LGBT History Month — and this year, Augusta University is putting a strong focus on the health and wellness component of LGBT history with a series of “Come Out for Health” events.

“Come Out for Health” events are typically hosted during LGBT Health Week — an awareness week in late March sponsored by the National Coalition for LGBT Health — but as a public research university and academic medical center, the AU community knows it’s always the right time to spread awareness of the health disparities in our communities.

According to the National Coalition for LGBT Health:

• 29%  of trans people said a health care provider refused to see them because of their actual or perceived gender identity.
• 56% of gay and bisexual men say their doctors have never recommended an HIV test.
• 55% of gay and bisexual teenagers are unaware of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) – a medication that can prevent HIV when taken daily.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among LGBTQ+ people ages 10 to 24.

With these statistics in mind, take the opportunity to get educated this October by attending one of several LGBTQ+ support events:

Monday, Oct. 7: Vanessa Shields-Haas: Lesbian Health Workshop

Time: 1 p.m.
Location: College of Allied Health Sciences, EC 5200 (Health Sciences Campus)

Tuesday, Oct. 8: Come Out For Health: Reprise College of Nursing Safe Zone Workshop

Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Health Sciences, EC 5200 (Health Sciences Campus)

Wednesday, Oct. 9: Come Out For Health: LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth: Findings from the Atlanta Youth Count 2018 and Implications for Georgia

Presented by Eric R. Wright, PhD, and Ana LaBoy, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Sociology, Georgia State University

Time: Noon-2 p.m.
Location: Greenblatt Library (Health Sciences Campus)

Time: 3-5 p.m.
Location: TBA, Jaguar Student Activities Center (Summerville Campus)

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 23, & 30: Lambda Alliance Student Organization Meetings

Time: 2:30-4 p.m.
Location: Jaguar Student Activities Center (JSAC), Multicultural Center (209), (Summerville Campus)

Wednesday, Oct. 9: Reprise of Come Out for Health Poster Display

Time: 3 p.m.
Location: JSAC Hardy Room (Summerville Campus)

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Jaguar Mini-Pride Festival: #Diversity*

Time: 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Location: D. Douglas Barnard Amphitheater (Summerville Campus)
Rain location: Jaguar Student Activities Center Breezeway (Summerville Campus)

Thursday, Oct. 17: LGBTQ+ Anti-Bullying Campaign: #SpiritDay*

Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.
Location: Jaguar Student Activities Center Breezeway (Summerville Campus)

Thursday, Oct. 17: A Conversation About PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis)

Presented by Dr. Bill Hight, licensed psychologist and training coordinator
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Location: Jaguar Student Activities Center Coffeehouse (Summerville Campus)

Thursday, Oct. 31: Lambda Alliance Annual Halloween Costume Party: Celebrate Halloween and LGBTQ+ History Month**

Time: 7-10 p.m.
Location: Jaguar Student Activities Center (JSAC) Ballroom (Summerville Campus)

*For additional information or to be a vendor: Contact Multicultural Student Engagement at MSE@augusta.edu, Lambda Alliance at spilgreen@augusta.edu or Dr. Darla Linville, adviser of Lambda Alliance, at dlinville@augusta.edu.