Questions About Race, Sexual Orientation Surprise Meals On Wheels Recipients, But Survey Is Part Of A New State Law
The legislation's goal is to collect demographic information on vulnerable populations. Studies on same-sex couple poverty, hate crimes and health disparities have found that members of the LGBTQ community have a higher risk of cancer, mental illness, substance abuse and other adverse health conditions.
Sacramento Bee:
Meals On Wheels Asks The Elderly About LGBT Status, Per CA Law
Carol Alexander received a phone call from Sacramento County’s Meals on Wheels program last Friday and it wasn’t her usual case worker. Alexander, 83, said she was hit with a barrage of about a half-dozen questions she considered invasive or unnecessary: What is your sex? Do you still associate with your gender? Are you heterosexual? Are you white or Hispanic? “I was in shock. I took offense to that,” she said. (McGough and Dickman, 10/23)
In other public health news —
KQED:
UC Davis Researchers Studying Health Effects Of Wildfires On Pregnant Women
Researchers are still recruiting women who were pregnant during and after the wildfires last year to participate in a study of the health effects of the polluted air on them and their babies. Studies of pregnant women exposed to traffic-related air pollution show an association with respiratory and developmental problems in their children, including autism. (Dembosky, 10/24)
San Jose Mercury News:
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Is Saturday
Law enforcement agencies throughout the Bay Area are urging households with unused pills to toss them out Saturday to mark National Prescription Drug Take Back Day .The annual event, held locally by agencies in Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, will occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It has resulted in 8.1 million pounds of prescription pills, patches and sealed original-container liquids being tossed out out homes nationwide, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. (Hurd, 10/24)