Beyond Pride: Overcoming Barriers to Health Equity for the LGBTQI+ Community
Originally aired October 25, 2023
This installment in our Campaign for the Culture conversation series was presented in partnership with the National LGBT Cancer Network.
For decades, the tobacco industry has deliberately targeted the LGBTQI+ community and other populations with marketing for flavored tobacco products, especially menthol cigarettes.
There are many other factors that also contribute to higher rates of smoking among LGBTQI+ people, including reduced access to healthcare, increased incidence of substance abuse, and higher stress levels due to discrimination.
In this discussion, we focused on highlighting the health inequities that LGBTQI+ communities face while gathering solutions from those who have been at the forefront of this fight. We also brought to light the intersectionality between health inequities and the heart of our work: the health burden from commercial tobacco.
Featured Speakers
Lincoln Mondy (Moderator)
Creator, Black Lives / Black Lungs
Lincoln Mondy (he/him) is the filmmaker behind Black Lives / Black Lungs (2017) and The Journey of a Stolen Leaf (2023). Lincoln designs campaigns, visuals and narratives advancing the health and power of the communities he holds sacred. With deep expertise in public health and reproductive justice, Lincoln leverages his creativity and instincts to inspire participation at scale. A native Texan, he graduated from The George ashington University and proudly serves on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington (PPMW).
Yesenia Mejia Urieta
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Program Coordinator of Transgender Services
Yesenia Mejia Urieta (they/them) is the current Program Coordinator for Transgender Services at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, working with an interdisciplinary team that connects individuals to gender-affirming care while addressing social determinants of health needs such as housing, mental health supports, and name change assistance.
James Husband, MPH
The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
Health Equity Coordinator
James Husband (he/him) works as a Health Equity Coordinator for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free (TFL), a program funded by the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC). In his role, he collaborates with TFL team members to ensure that equity is applied to all programs across Louisiana. He is invested and dedicated to finding and supporting structures that serve all people, especially transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) communities. James is passionate about addressing social determinants of health, systematic healthcare inequities, and utilizing the built environment approach to create healthier people and communities.
Dr. Scout, PhD
The National LGBT Cancer Network
Executive Director
Scout (they/he) is the Executive Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network and the principal investigator of both the CDC-funded LGBTQ tobacco-related cancer disparity network and Out: The National Cancer Survey. They spend much of their time providing technical assistance for tobacco- and cancer-focused agencies, expanding their reach and engagement with LGBTQ+ populations. Scout has a long history in health policy analysis and a particular interest in expanding LGBTQ+ surveillance and research. Their work has won them recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, two state governments, and many city governments.
Dr. Monique Gary, DO, MSc, FACS
Grand View Health
Medical Director
Dr. Monique “Dr. Mo” Gary (she/her) is a breast surgeon, educator, and advocate for wellness. Dr. Mo currently serves as the Medical Director of the Grand View Health cancer program and is the CEO of Still Rise Farms, a 40-acre farm that was founded as a "wellness incubator" for people facing cancer and chronic illness. Dr. Mo believes in the power of the connection between mind, body, and spirit to promote overall wellness, and is passionate about addressing the disparities in health outcomes for marginalized people.