In Our Own Voices, the MOCHA Center, the Harm Reduction Coalition and Gay Men’s Health Crisis, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute hosted Unity through Diversity: Shifting Our Focus, the New York State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People of Color (LGBT POC) Health Summit at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center from Thursday, October 15, 2009 through Sunday, October 18, 2009.

The purpose of the Health Summit was to provide workshops and discussions on cutting edge program development, implementation, and assessment, in order to allow Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender organizations to operate their vital programs that address such issues: 

• AIDS/HIV prevention;

• Spirituality in the LGBT POC community;

• Harm Reduction Strategies;

• Domestic Violence in LGBT POC relationships;

• Transgender POC health care concerns;

• Youth-centered programs concerning suicide prevention, sexual health, and more;

• Substance abuse prevention;

• Current barriers to accessing health care, and how to advocate for change;

The Health Summit featured a welcoming address by the Honorable Gerald D. Jennings, Mayor of the City of Albany, and a keynote address by Dr. Marjorie Hill, CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 9:00 AM. Additionally, there was be a panel discussion on Friday, October 16, 2009, featuring representatives from the NYS Office of Family and Children Services, the NYS Office for the Aging, the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the NYS Division of Human Rights, the NYS Office of Mental Health, and the NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. This discussion highlighted the current needs and issues concerning LGBT POC and vulnerable sub-populations in our communities, including: the affects of addiction; public health prevention initiatives; and reforming current health care policy to improve the quality of and access to health care for LGBT POC throughout New York State.

This Summit provided a forum for the LGBT POC community to look at issues and to identify future strategies that can be taken back to our communities throughout New York State.

Now that the Summit is over, the work begun there has not stopped! Check back frequently for information and resources based on the outcomes from the Summit!