Inclusion Is Health.
For decades, thousands of people have fought to end discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. And although with advances in their claims, this community continues to face social prejudices in all areas of our society, including health, which results in discrimination in access to services.
Precisely in June, we celebrate International LGBTQ+ Pride Month, to reaffirm that feeling of pride the community LGBTQ+ has about their sexual orientation and gender identity and to give a voice to their rights and claims for respect, dignity and inclusion in the society.
At Triple-S we have undertaken several efforts to raise awareness and amplify the definition of inclusion, including the LGBTQ+ community. Above all, to advocate to break with disparities in access to health that are produced by stereotypes and misinformation. These barriers they face increase this population’s physical and mental health risks; they can be isolated from being discriminated against.
We all deserve to be valued and treated with dignity and empathy. To this end, in Triple-S, we recognize among our values: respect, inclusion, and courage as fundamental values of the human being, not only to express the importance of a right but to take the right actions.
In terms of education, our providers have had the opportunity to receive continuing education training by completing three credits on health topics that benefit the LGBTQ+ community. Before the pandemic and in collaboration with the Universidad Central del Caribe, face-to-face workshops were offered in different parts of the island aimed at doctors, psychologists, nurses, social workers, optometrists, and health educators to educate on the sensitivity and skills of health for the LGBTQ+ community. After the pandemic, this topic is part of the Distance Continuing Education Program for doctors and dentists who are active Triple-S providers and is currently available through the Providers portal of the Mi Triple-S platform.
As part of our efforts to directly support the LGBTQ+ community, at Fundación Triple-S, we partner with Waves Ahead – Sage. This non-profit organization serves the older adult population vulnerable in the LGBTQ+ community. Among its services, this entity offers attention to emotional well-being and mental health to the participants of its programs. In addition, they have collaborated by providing workshops to Triple-S employees to educate about the LGBTQ+ community and its available services.
On the other hand, Triple-S employees have participated several times in the “All Out 5k” race of the True Self Foundation. This organization favors communities of diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity. It promotes social mobility and the comprehensive well-being of LGBTQ+ communities. And this year the traditional 5k race, which will take place on Saturday, June 24, will be no exception for employees to celebrate love, diversity, and equity.
Recognizing that the LGBTQ+ community is one of the sectors that suffer from social isolation and loneliness, Fundación Triple-S carries out a series of efforts to foster interpersonal social relationships. Living alone can become social isolation and can also extend to the feeling of loneliness. The danger is that, in addition to all the emotional consequences they can have, scientific studies indicate that social isolation and loneliness cause damage to our physical health.
As part of the celebration of International LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Triple-S joins the cause of so many organizations that promote tolerance, equality, and dignity for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans people, but also because we know that inclusion is health.
