This week’s photograph was taken in Washington, DC (of course). I was honored to volunteer to capture a morning workout session led by volunteers and leaders of the Human Rights Campaign (@HRC). I have found that many of my medical professional colleagues don’t know what the Human Rights Campaign is, so for their benefit:
As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.hrc.org
I have a policy of not doing any commissioned photographic work, and have only made a few exceptions to this rule. This is one of the exceptions.
Eliminating health disparities
I have noticed in the last 5-6 years the impact of more human beings living as their authentic selves, enabled by modern societal norms and high quality supervised medical care.
There are less hospitalizations for mental health, more hospitalizations for medically supervised transition care.
At the same time, I have heard or felt the sentiment on the part of people in these communities that after that, lifelong health is not guaranteed. This sentiment manifests in the ways communities gather, the foods they serve, the activities they take part in.
I’m not talking about nightclubs (which deserve to be safe spaces as well). I”m talking about life, which is why it’s so great to see LGBTQ communities looking after their total health.
We now have copious amounts of data about nutrition and other lifestyle approaches that work that we didn’t have 10 years ago. I’m interested specifically in bringing the latest science wherever I go (it’s my job to anyway). LGBTQ communities deserve to be healthy.
I’ll make exceptions to capture those scenes 🙂 .
Rest of the photos from the day below. All @CreativeCommons licensed as usual.
We’re here, in the future, because Aa DC Goes, so Goes the Nation.