Grantmakers in Health has published this issue focus on addressing the health, education, and employment needs of gay, bisexual, and transgender boys and men of color. While several private and public funders have prioritized the needs of boys and men of color, few have explicitly addressed the specific needs of gay, bisexual, and transgender boys and men of color. These needs include barriers to access to health care, disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS (among young men who have sex with men diagnosed with HIV, 78% are African American or Latino), housing instability and homelessness, and unsafe and hostile school environments. While some of these issues are experienced by all boys and men or color, or by all gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and adults, they are compounded for gay, bisexual, and transgender boys and men of color.
While there have been some examples of funder activities to address these needs, the issue focus recommends that health funders could do more to support the health and well-being of gay, bisexual, and transgender boys and men of color by funding activities that:
- Expand health access
- Improve school climates
- Increase research and awareness
- Collaborate across issue areas
Ignatius Bau 