AIDS Institute Celebrates LGBT Pride Month by Awarding More Than $5 Million to Support Health and Human Services for LGBT Individuals

Albany, N.Y. (June 28, 2013) - June is lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Pride Month and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) AIDS Institute is joining in the celebration by honoring the LGBT community and its many contributions over the years to the health and wellness of New Yorkers.

The AIDS Institute has announced 41 grant awards totaling approximately $5.2 million annually to support health and human services for LGBT individuals, families and communities throughout the state of New York. The grants, funded within the LGBT Health and Human Services Initiative, will support work in Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Syracuse, Ithaca, Cortland, Albany, the Hudson Valley, Westchester, New York City and Long Island. One statewide grant to the LGBT Cancer Network will coordinate LGBT cultural competency work. The Empire State Pride Agenda will continue to provide technical assistance for awardees and emerging organizations.

"We congratulate the awardees, many of whom we have had long standing relationships with as advocates, service providers and partners in the provision of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services," said State Health Commissioner, Nirav R. Shah M.D., M.P.H. "There is no better way to celebrate LGBT Pride than to offer support for the life saving work of LGBT Health and Human Services providers. Their work offers comfort, support and critically needed health care for LGBT New Yorkers 365 days a year."

The LGBT Health and Human Services Initiative is a unique model of health promotion and health access that strives to address the unique health disparities facing LGBT New Yorkers through innovative strategies to reduce the impact on LGBT individuals and their families from isolation, discrimination in health care, violence, homelessness, homophobia and transphobia.

One of the goals of DOH is to eliminate disparities in health care access by increasing the availability and quality of health care services for New York's underserved populations. This initiative focuses on addressing disparities through building a wider, more sensitive and appropriate system of health and human services for LGBT individuals, families and communities.

For a complete listing of awardees under the Health and Human Services for LGBT Individuals, Families and Communities Visit the DOH web site at http://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfa/1207260121/