Queering Medicine
Mission Statement
Queering Medicine is a grassroots advocacy organization made up of queer people working to improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+ people in the Greater Lansing area using science-informed knowledge and practice. Systemic, institutional, and individual bias against LGBTQ+ people and a lack of experience in how to serve our communities result in less access to appropriate healthcare and worse health outcomes for queer folx. To accomplish our goals, we build coalitions and partnerships, generate new knowledge, disseminate information, and help address barriers to healthcare access. We seek to move away from the dominant and frequently oppressive hierarchical systems by having a non-hierarchical leadership and decision-making structure that recognizes members’ unique identities, experiences, knowledge, and trauma. Queering Medicine is an inclusive group that is open to any members of LGBTQ+ communities who share our values and goals and want to be actively involved in our work.
Engaging LGBTQIA+ community members to identify healthcare needs
A large part of our work is listening to queer folks in Lansing and what their specific needs are.
Improving healthcare by providing education to community members
We worked for the past two years since our inception to build connections and enter medical spaces to educate and train physicians and other provider staff on respectfully interacting with queer folks
Connecting queer and queer-friendly healthcare providers with community
We work a lot to make sure LGBTQIA+ Lansing residents are connected with providers who will respect and affirm their health needs.
Vision
Ensure high-quality healthcare and end health disparities for LGBTQ+ people in the Greater Lansing area.
LGBTQIA+ community
Everyone can find and access quality, affirming health care and providers
Individuals are well-informed and empowered in making healthcare decisions
Community informs and influences how healthcare is provided
Community has mechanisms and power to hold healthcare providers and systems accountable
No need for black market and grey markets for LGBTQ+ healthcare
Healthcare Providers
Providers are equipped to work with and deliver affirming, appropriate and intersectional care to LGBTQ+ people
Providers hold themselves accountable to delivering affirming care informed by community needs
Providers receive standardized, ongoing education on providing affirming and appropriate care to LGBTQ+ people that reflects intersectionality, best practices, and community needs
Research
LGBTQ+ people define the need for and appropriateness of biomedical, medical, and healthcare-related research on and about LGBTQ+ people, and intersectionality is taken into account
Researchers investigating LGBTQ+ issues hold themselves accountable to LGBTQ+ communities
Researchers recognize that LGBTQ+ communities are not homogenous, and that all people with the same identity do not have the same experiences, needs, or views
Adequate funding is available for research on LGBTQ+ issues
Research findings on LGBTQ+ issues are available and accessible to LGBTQ+ people
Community Organizations and Partnerships
Organizations with similar missions and goals to Queering Medicine provide resources and support to one another
Organizations have partnerships that address the intersectional experiences of LGBTQ+ people
LGBTQ+ community organizations have a clear role in…
Including training and competence specific to LGBTQ+ populations in licensing requirements and professional organization certifications
Changing laws and policies that impact LGBTQ+ people
Changing policies in the biomedical field that impact LGBTQ+ people
Changing policies and practices in research about and including LGBTQ+ people
There is a vibrant ecosystem of grassroots organizations working on intersectional LGBTQ+ healthcare issues locally and nationally
Greater Individual and Community...
Humility
Accountability
Agency
Autonomy
Understanding and acceptance of intersectionality
Understanding of power and privilege
Commitment to lifelong learning
Eliminating...
Homophobia
Transphobia
Cisheteropatriarchy
White supremacy
Ableism
...and any other systems of oppression and stereotypes impacting LGBTQ+ people
We envision a world where our basic needs and healthcare are no longer something we need to advocate for.