A balanced, nutritional diet and exercise are necessary for everyone, gay or straight. But lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have additional health concerns that are important to remember. From AIDS infection to teen pregnancy, health issues in the gay community affect people of all ages. Learn about how issues of poor self-esteem and even self-loathing can contribute to such health risks as sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco use, and depression. Find out how stereotyped images of ultra-thin models contribute to eating disorders and feelings of isolation. Most important, learn how LGBT people can lead healthy and productive lives by respecting themselves and each other.

At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals-often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBT-are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity for research and advocacy purposes, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. Furthermore, the experiences of LGBT individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location, and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People assesses the state of science on the health status of LGBT populations, identifies research gaps and opportunities, and outlines a research agenda for the National Institute of Health. The report examines the health status of these populations in three life stages: childhood and adolescence, early/middle adulthood, and later adulthood. At each life stage, the committee studied mental health, physical health, risks and protective factors, health services, and contextual influences. To advance understanding of the health needs of all LGBT individuals, the report finds that researchers need more data about the demographics of these populations, improved methods for collecting and analyzing data, and an increased participation of sexual and gender minorities in research. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People is a valuable resource for policymakers, federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), LGBT advocacy groups, clinicians, and service providers.

Though we often hear about the "gay problem" today, there is an even deeper problem in the church today--one that we often overlook. The call to follow Christ is a call to costly obedience for all, not just for gay Christians. Far too often, the church has elevated homosexuality above other sins and required a costly obedience from gays that it is unwilling to demand of others. And yet, the answer is not to weaken the demands of obedience. Instead, gay Christians who make the difficult choice to align their lives with the biblical view of sexuality are a gift to the church, reminding all of us that spiritual growth and maturity is costly. There is a price to pay in following Christ and devoting our lives to the call of the gospel, and it is one that we all must pay--gay and straight Christians alike. Through the stories and struggles of gay Christians who are reorienting their lives around the costly obedience required to follow Christ, Mark Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets call the church to reorient as well, leaving behind the casual morality that is widespread today to pursue the path of radical discipleship. Unlike any other book on homosexuality and the church, this is a call to examine your life and consider what God is asking you to lay down to take up your cross and follow him.

How do we respond to gay people who tell us how much they love the Lord and experience God's power? What do we do with the argument that the Old Testament laws no longer apply? Brown provides solid biblical answers, clearly written and based on sound scholarship, in a compassionate way that causes the reader to wrestle with the issues and discover the biblical truth. He also provides practical guidelines for ministry, and shows readers how they can resist the gay agenda while reaching out to their gay friends and family.

THE GROUNDBREAKING GUIDEBOOK ON THE HEALTH OF BOYS AND MEN -- FOR THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM Men are likely to die, on average, nearly six years earlier than women -- and they have higher mortality rates for many of the leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, accidents, suicide, chronic liver disease, and cancer. The women in their lives -- mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, and daughters -- are traditionally charged with managing their health concerns. From Boys to Men is a unique resource designed to arm women with much-needed information about men's health issues and to help them educate their male loved ones on how to take care of themselves. Filled with Dr. Senay's expert medical advice, personal anecdotes, and a healthy dose of humor, From Boys to Men will resonate with women of every age and stage of life. TOPICS INCLUDE: BOYS Health issues unique to infants · the most dangerous threats to teenage boys· learning disabilities and developmental disorders · gender issues · sportsmanship · body image · sex and sexuality MEN Preventative care · emotional needs and disorders · stress and depression · high cholesterol and blood pressure · coping with illness · sexual dysfunction...and more.

"That's so gay!" Most people have heard that before, but what does it really mean? Words have power and must be used cautiously. Accepting someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) begins with first understanding what each of those identities means. Consider common stereotypes of the LGBT community, explore where they come from and what they mean, and decide if they are actually valid. How can individuals do their part to reduce hurtful stereotypes and gain a better perspective on diverse people? Find out about informational resources that are available and how young people are taking action in their communities.

A major text for clinicians and researchers who have an interest in homosexuality and homosexual patients with mental disorders, this book is an up-to-date review as well as a handbook covering the full range of affirmative treatments and therapies for lesbian and gay clients. Expert contributors look at problems caused by stigma and homophobic societal attitudes and discuss methods that can be used to work with gay clients in a positive context. Other issues of particular importance in working with lesbians and gay men are addressed.

Boys who play with Barbie dolls. Girls who join the football team. What is gender? What are gender roles? What's the difference between being a tomboy and being transgender? Is it possible to be in the wrong body? Explore the answers to these questions with an in-depth look at what it means to be transgender, based on the personal experiences of the men and women who have taken steps to transition. Learn from the experiences of transgender young people who make the significant choice to live openly as another gender while still in high school. Uncover the reality of this often misunderstood group and how it fits into the LBGT community.

Ed was sent to a religious treatment camp when he first told his family he was gay. When Sarah recognized she was a lesbian, she found support from a gay teacher in her high school. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres announced her sexual orientation on national television, and internationally-recognized musician Ricky Martin told the world he was gay on his website. For each individual, the experience of coming out and openly acknowledging oneself as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is very different. And it can take a lifetime. Share the personal coming-out experiences of these and other lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to find out more about this complicated and exciting process. Learn about organizations such as gay-straight student alliances and Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), which provide support to people whose loved ones are coming out. Find out what you can do to help make someone's coming out a positive, happy, and healthy experience.

The 1998 murder of 21-year-old college freshman Matthew Shepard brought home to many Americans the issue of homophobia and hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Eventually, it led to legislation at the federal level against people who commit hate crimes. But homophobia, the fear and hatred of gay people, has a long history, and despite many advances by the LGBT community, homophobia continues in our own society and around the world. Learn about the ways homophobia oppresses LGBT people, their fight for civil rights, and why an end to prejudice against gay people is important for all Americans. Examine how you yourself might be homophobic. And finally, explore the ways young people—straight and gay—can work together toward mutual understanding, respect, and a better future for all of us by ending homophobia.