Social factors such as harassment, violence and discrimination can have a detrimental effect on the health of any person, particularly those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or inquisitive (LGBTQ+). To address the health, education and safety needs of this community, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) are working with national, state and local partners to create a safer and more secure environment. In Indianapolis, initiatives are underway to provide resources such as counseling services for those who have experienced discrimination or violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Training sessions are also held to teach participants strategies for engaging families with LGBT students, how to have empathic conversations with families, ideas on how to increase parent and family participation in schools, and action measures on how they would apply training to school activities, resources, and services when they returned to their school communities.
The director of the training also analyzes key findings, resources, and evidence-based family intervention strategies that have been developed to help families with ethnic and religious diversity support LGBT youth, reduce health risks, and promote student well-being in the context of families, cultures, and religious communities. The initiatives in Indianapolis are making progress towards creating a safer and more secure environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community. However, there is still much work to be done in order to ensure that all individuals are treated with respect and dignity regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is important that everyone works together to create an inclusive environment where everyone can feel safe and secure. Creating an environment where members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel safe and secure requires educating the public about the importance of acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ+ individuals.
It is also important that members of the community are aware of their rights under the law so that they can take action if they experience any form of discrimination or violence. The initiatives in Indianapolis are a step in the right direction towards creating a safer and more secure environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community. By providing resources such as counseling services for those who have experienced discrimination or violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, educating the public about acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ+ individuals, and ensuring that members of the community are aware of their rights under the law, Indianapolis is taking steps towards creating an inclusive environment where everyone can feel safe and secure.
