Art of Transliness

ryansallans:

The National Center for Transgender Equality #NCTE has just released a sheet that lists 9 facts about sexual and reproductive health related to transgender individuals. This is one of the many areas that I am the most passionate about, getting people into providers, and having these providers trained to competently serve the community. If you are starting conversations with organizations or providers desiring to learn more and spread more knowledge, perhaps these 9 facts will be a way to get through the door. 

In celebration of National LGBT Health Awareness Week, NCTE has released this preview of a fact sheet, Transgender Sexual and Reproductive Health: Unmet Needs and Barriers to Care.  The full fact sheet will include policy recommendations for the medical community to improve the delivery of health care. Join our mailing list to get your copy of the final fact sheet.

Key facts on sexual and reproductive health for transgender people:

1. Transgender people may have sexual partners who are men, women, or both. A transgender person’s partners or sexual history cannot be assumed from their gender identity or the gender they were assigned at birth.

2. Transgender people need preventive health screenings. Standard preventive health screenings are generally recommended for the body parts a patient has regardless of that patient’s gender identity, including breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings.

3. Transgender people are at high risk for HIV and other STI infections. According to the CDC, transgender people experience HIV infection at four times the national population level. African-American and Latino/a transgender people are at especially high risk for HIV and other STIs.

4. Many transgender men who have sex with men are at risk for unintended pregnancy as well as STIs. Transgender men who have sex with men report high rates of unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. Some transgender men report being more concerned about pregnancy than HIV and other STIs.

5. Marginalization and abuse increase health risks for transgender people. Transgender people face high rates of social and economic marginalization, as well as high rates of physical and sexual abuse. Transgender and gender nonconforming youth are particularly at risk for sexual abuse and for engaging in commercial or survival sex.

6. Transgender people are often reluctant to seek sexual and reproductive health care. One in three transgender people, and 48% of transgender men, have delayed or avoided preventive health care such as pelvic exams or STI screening out of fear of discrimination or disrespect. One survey reported that half of transgender men did not receive annual pelvic exams. Reasons included discomfort with the physical exam due to gender issues (40%), lack of money or insurance (13%), lack of a medical provider they were comfortable with (13%), and thinking they did not need pelvic exams (7%). Another survey found that transgender teens, including those at risk for unintended pregnancy, were reluctant to go to a family planning clinic.

7. Transgender people lack access to relevant health information. Sexual health education for youth and adults rarely addresses transgender people’s bodies and identities. For example, transgender men who have sex with men report a lack of adequate information about their sexual health at rates as high as 93.8%.

8. Providers often lack appropriate clinical knowledge. While treating transgender patients does not require special expertise, providers often lack basic knowledge about transgender people and their health needs. In a nationwide survey, 50% of transgender people reported having to teach a health care provider about providing appropriate care.

9. Many providers still turn transgender patients away. In national surveys, 19% to 27% of transgender people report being turned away by health care providers who refused to provide care for them. Outright refusals of care occur across all types of providers, including providers of sexual and reproductive health care.

The Harrington Jacket is the perfect light-weight spring jacket. And the history behind this particular piece of fashion is quite interesting.

From wikipedia.com

A Harrington jacket is a lightweight waist-length jacket, made of cotton, polyester, wool or suede — usually with traditionally Fraser tartan or check-patterned lining.

The first Harrington-style jackets were made by British clothing companies Grenfell of Burnley, Lancashire and Baracuta of Stockport, Cheshire in the 1930s. As of 2012, Baracuta still makes the same model, the G9. Elvis Presley popularized the Baracuta G9 when he wore it in his 1958 movie King Creole. This style of jacket earned the nickname Harrington because it was worn by the character Rodney Harrington (played by Ryan O’Neal) in the 1960s prime time soap opera Peyton Place.

Similar to the 1950s United States Ivy League look, the jacket became fashionable in the United Kingdom in the 1960s among mods and skinheads. They again became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s with skinhead and mod revivalists, as well as with scooterboys. Within those subcultures, Harringtons are often worn with Fred Perry or Ben Sherman shirts. In addition to Baracuta, companies that have made Harrington jackets include: Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Merc London, Fred Perry, Tesco, Izod, Ben Sherman, Lacoste, Lyle and Scott, Lonsdale and Warrior Clothing.

In 2007, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its brand, Baracuta released three special edition G9 jackets with quotes by Presley, Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra — all of them frequent wearers of the Harrington — printed on the lining.