Walk With A Doc: Columbus, OH

The LGBTQ Community faces unique health disparities. The root causes of many of these can be traced to societal homophobia and discomfort with non-traditional gender identities. In many instances, LGBTQ people do not feel comfortable talking about their sexual orientation or gender identities with medical and social service providers for fear that they will be shunned or experience discriminatory treatment. This fear leads many LGBTQ people to avoid seeking routine or preventive medical care which correlates with increased rates of breast and cervical cancer, HIV, mental and behavioral health problems, obesity and other health concerns.

In an effort both to promote exercise and physical activity and to increase community trust with culturally competent medical providers, the LGBTQ Health Initiative at Columbus Public Health is partnering with the Family Pride Network to host the second of a series of Walk with a Doc’s tailored to the LGBTQ Community.   Dr. Shelley Blackburn will lead lesbians, queer families and allies on a walk through Franklin Park. Please join us as we try to reduce health disparities experienced by this community and build stronger relationships between LGBTQ patients and culturally competent providers.