The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has long been seen as a marginalized population in regard to preventative health care and access to services. On April 16, 2011 SAGE Metro St. Louis, One Saint Louis and Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Saint Louis will host the 2nd Annual LGBT Community Health and Resource Fair at 1919 South Broadway from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Fair coincides with the 2011 National Health Care Decisions Day, a day set aside each year to encourage all community members to do advance planning through Health Care Directives. In 2010 President Obama signed an executive order which ordered Medicare and Medicaid funded hospitals to honor the visitation rights of LGBT patients. Sherrill Wayland, SAGE Metro St. Louis states, “While this is a monumental step toward LGBT equality, we must take additional steps to complete Health Care Directives and Living Wills to ensure that our partners and loved ones have the legal authority to direct our care should we not be able to make the critical decisions needed during a time of medical crisis.” One Saint Louis is providing volunteer legal professionals to assist community members with completing this essential paperwork during the Fair.
Additional highlights of the Resource Fair include: St. John’s Mercy Digital Mammography Van (available to people with or without insurance), health screenings, physicians, dentists, chiropractors, mental health counselors, legal and financial professionals, senior service organizations, LGBT organizations and business owners to name a few. “We are very excited by the quality of organizations who are reaching out to serve the LGBT community,” states Wayland.
The Resource Fair is free and open to all community members. Reservations are needed for certain activities. For the Health Care Directive Clinic call (314) 241-1114 to schedule an appointment and St. John’s Mercy Mammography Van call (314) 251-6300 (if you do not have insurance call 314-251-6400). For complete details on the 2nd Annual LGBT Health and Community Resource Fair or to become a vendor, visit the SAGE website at www.SageMetroSTL.org.
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