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Health

Discover the Health section of The Advocate, where readers can find the latest news on medicine, fitness, mental and physical wellbeing, scientific developments, and diseases that affect the LGBT community. Read the most recent on gay health, AIDS and HIV news, pregnancy and sex from experts like doctors and researchers. Learn about news related to health insurance, statistics, changing laws and government policy, and tools that can be used in preventing and curing illnesses in the United States and beyond.

Rainbow crosswalk in Hoboken (L); Women on motorcycles at Denver Pride (M); Empire State Building in rainbow colors (R)

What states are the best for LGBTQ+ people? These are the top 15

Based on laws surrounding marriage, family rights, health care, and education, here are the 15 best states for LGBTQ+ people.

Becca Balint Rise Up for LGBTQI Youth in Schools Initiative

Over 80 House Democrats demand Trump rescind gender-affirming care ban: 'We want trans kids to live'

The letter, introduced by Rep. Becca Balint and signed by 89 House Democrats, asserts that the ban "threatens the lives and well-being of the young people who need this care, which is supported by every major medical association."

illustration of multicultural group against FGM

Trump is ‘dangerously’ conflating gender-affirming care with a human rights violation

Groups that work to end female genital mutilation and cutting worry about an executive order that co-opts the policies they’ve worked to pass over nearly 30 years.

SCOUTS protest sign Transgender flag colors says healthcare is safe effective life saving

Anti-LGBTQ+ policies harm the health of not only LGBTQ+ people, but all Americans

Rigorous and long-standing research demonstrates that LGBTQ+-inclusive policies support safer communities and stronger economies for everyone, while exclusionary laws worsen and limit access to essential services.

instagram facebook logos on cell phone screen disabled college student bullied for posting about his transition Micah Leroy Disabled Trans Boy

A disabled college student was bullied for posting about his transition. Meta removed his account

Micah Leroy, who ran the account known as “Disabled Trans Boy” on Instagram, became the subject of a right-wing hate campaign after he posted a video celebrating his top surgery.

queer teen doing homework with sibling playing video games in background

LGBTQ+ youth are 'discriminated against' in all 50 states — but some regions are worse

The Trevor Project's recent survey of LGBTQ+ mental health has "grim" findings.

Cowboy at Oklahoma Pride (L); Oklahoma Pride float with young people (M); Pulse Nightclub memorial mourners (R)

What states are the most dangerous for LGBTQ+ people? Here are the worst 15

A lot of states are passing laws that target the LGBTQ+ community — but these 15 are the absolute worst.

trans joy is real flag LGBTQIA Trans rights protest on Parliament Square in London

Most Americans support transgender health care and sports bans — yet they oppose discrimination

Most Americans support banning gender-affirming care for youth and preventing trans athletes from participating on teams that align with their identity — yet they also support anti-discrimination laws protecting trans people.

entrance public bathrooms

Transgender people face more harassment in bathrooms that match their sex assigned at birth: study

A new study proves that transgender people are more likely to face harassment when using bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth than in facilities that match their identities.

red head teen with freckles beside father checking into doctors office for appointment

What is gender-affirming care, who uses it, and do they regret it?

Gender-affirming care is banned for transgender youth when it's mainly cisgender people who use it, and when it has a significantly lower regret rate than all other major surgeries, tattoos, and children.

US DOT building

Donald Trump's DOT will prioritize areas with higher 'marriage and birth rates'

The memo directs DOT employees to "give preference to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average."

teen with parent seeking gender affirming care donald trump

Major Virginia medical center stops gender-affirming care for minors after Trump’s executive order

The treatment remains legal in Virginia, but at least one medical provider is complying with the anti-trans presidential directive.

Hat shaped building overlooks Maseru, Lesotho

Lesotho's main LGBTQ+ group says it's 'not receiving grants' after Donald Trump lies

Lesotho's largest LGBTQ+ group says it has not received the millions Donald Trump claimed they have.

Baptist pastor LGBTQIA pride parade washington DC 2019

Most religious Americans support nondiscrimination laws protecting LGBTQ+ people: survey

Regardless of faith, the vast majority of U.S. adults support LGBTQ+ protections.

Photo of the outside facad of the Dr. Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Cancer Research Center

This cancer researcher was studying LGBTQ+ people. Her work is now in limbo

A researcher at the George Washington Cancer Center says Trump could erase years of scientific work.

3D medical rendering of human sperm cells swimming

Ohio bill would ban ejaculation without intent to conceive — with exceptions for LGBTQ+ people

The Conception Begins at Erection Act contains exceptions for men using birth control, donating sperm, masturbating, or having sex with another man or member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Judge holding gavel

Federal judge orders restoration of health agency web pages

Pages devoted to HIV and AIDS, assisted reproductive technologies, and youth health risks had disappeared from government websites due to Donald Trump's "gender ideology" order.

Kansas governor Laura Kelly

Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly once again vetoes gender-affirming care ban for minors

Senate Bill 63 sought to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria while allowing the same treatments to continue for cisgender minors with other conditions.