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Dignity, Respect, and Health Justice: Highlighting Leaders in our Community

Caracole volunteers wearing “pride positive” shirts (provided)   

Every person deserves dignity and respect, yet systemic discrimination—whether racism, ableism, or anti-LGBTQ+ bias—has shaped our communities and institutions, often depriving people of opportunities and resources. This can lead to barriers to financial, emotional, and physical health and well-being, and the results can reverberate across generations. The good news is it doesn’t have to be this way. 

At Interact for Health, we are taking this opportunity during LGBTQ+ Pride Month to recognize the resilience and impact of LGBTQ+ changemakers in our community who are transforming healthcare, housing, employment, and social acceptance. Recognizing the harm caused by systemic discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community is crucial.  And still, we must uplift the organizations driving equity and the steps each person can take to foster a respectful, inclusive society.  

Leaders in our region, such as Caracole, Queen City Charities, Queer Kentucky, and Equality Ohio, are doing just that by providing solutions, support, resources, and opportunities for queer individuals in our community. 

We asked them, “What does dignity and respect mean to you and the communities you serve?” 

 

Queen City Charities' Annual Wigs and Waffles Drag Brunch (provided)

Anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination are preventing our region from fully thriving. As a community, it is essential that we support organizations who are fighting for individuals who have been historically underrepresented and overlooked.  

As individuals, there are actions we can all take to create a region where dignity and respect are cornerstones of our community. Such actions include: 

• Supporting federal, state, and local policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations.  
• Amplifying the historical and present-day stories and disaggregated data that help us better understand the experiences, unique needs, and gaps in community conditions among groups that have been historically overlooked in data collection (e.g., people who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and people of different races and ethnicities).  
• Learning from the experiences of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community through resources like “A Guide to Being a Good Ally” and “Trans Ally Guide”  

Policy and social change only happen when communities demand action. By advocating for inclusive policies, amplifying overlooked voices, and challenging discrimination, we pave the way for health justice. Creating a world where someone’s race, sexual orientation, gender, or zip code doesn’t determine their health outcomes makes not only the region, but us as individuals stronger.  

As a community, we can choose to reimagine our systems, institutions, and laws so that racism and discrimination no longer undermine health. If we do this, every person—no matter who they are—will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. 

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