Out & Healthy, National LGBT Health Conference, Adds LGBT Research Expert to Roster of Distinguished Speakers

Monday, October 22, 2007

Contact:  Felicia Powers   202.419.0440 (office)  

 

(Washington, DC) The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) have added Dr. M.V. Lee Badgett to their roster of speakers at the first-ever Out & Healthy National LGBT Health Conference and Expo, presented by Aetna. The Conference will take place November 2-3 in Washington, D.C., at the Reagan International Trade Center.

Dr. Badgett will address Out & Healthy participants about access to health insurance during the opening session of the Conference. Dr. Badgett, a well-known researcher on topics of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community nationwide, is Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Research Director of the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy. Winnie Stachelberg, Senior Vice President for External Affairs for the Center for American Progress will also present findings on a new study detailing the impact of domestic partner insurance in the opening session.

The historic Out & Healthy Conference will take a broad look at the future of health care delivery to America’s LGBT population. Despite cultural, economic, racial, age-related, and gender diversity within the LGBT segments, there are similarities that can help health care professionals and other stakeholders more accurately and effectively serve this market segment.

The Out & Healthy Conference will offer data, case studies and dialog on the future of health care delivery to and business opportunities within the LGBT market.  Health care consumers, patient representatives, health care providers, insurers, pharmaceutical teams, recruiters and investors will attend this conference.

“We know that many of the health care needs of American LGBT employees are not addressed in the current health care delivery system,” said Justin G. Nelson, Co-Founder and President of NGLCC. “With our range of distinguished speakers and panelists we hope to address many of those issues.”

“Incomplete and often inadequate state laws, differing hospital policies and widely varying health care provider knowledge about LGBT health concerns create many challenges to appropriate and equal health treatment for LGBT people,” said Ellen Kahn, Director of HRC’s Family Project.  “The Out & Healthy Conference will encourage the adoption of standards that promote quality and reduce discrimination in all health care delivery systems.”

 

This first-ever conference on LGBT health is supported by a number of participating companies including presenting-sponsor Aetna and sponsors Pfizer, Abreva®, Merck, Medtronic, and Bio-Scrip. The conference is co-hosted by the nation’s top LGBT health organizations including the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) and The Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization and Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE), and by top hospital and insurance associations including the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

 

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About the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC):

The NGLCC represents the interests of the estimated 1.4 million LGBT owned businesses.  Through its affiliated network of 45 state and local chambers and business organizations, the NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the country. 

About the Human Rights Campaign (HRC):

 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.