In Good Health

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision was a landmark victory for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Americans, ensuring that a person cannot be discriminated against in the workplace on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Protecting people from discrimination, including people who are gay or transgender, is about protecting health. We believe fair treatment of LGBTQ people is foundational to our core value of equity, and is essential to supporting the overall health of LGBTQ people and their families. We applaud the people and organizations whose work helped lead to today's historic decision.  

But our work is not done. While we celebrate this victory, LQBTQ Americans continue to face unfair, unjust and avoidable

When racially-motivated ideals lead to overt misuse of power and senseless death, we have conversations at the Foundation about how the event connects to our mission. How does the death of a man at the hands of police in Minneapolis have anything to do with bringing health in reach for all Coloradans?

The answer? It has everything to do with our work.

In fact, it’s exactly what we’re fighting against. Racism has historically and persistently poisoned our systems, institutions and societal structures, resulting in race-related disparities in education, employment, wealth, housing, food access, criminal justice and health care. These disparities are as old as our country.

Racism is a public health issue. If we are to make any progress

As we continue to make our way through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s become clear that we must also prepare for what some are calling the “secondary pandemic” – a mental health crisis.

To be sure, though, this crisis isn’t new. We’re losing more lives to mental health challenges than ever before, and the state of mental health in Colorado is worsened by the arrival of COVID-19. The threat it poses to our individual and collective well-being cannot be ignored.

The virus brought with it new realities many never imagined – sudden job losses, school closures, isolation, fever checks at businesses, rationing of personal protective equipment and even an inability to hold funerals for loved ones. Each of these

Colorado’s Black/African American residents make up just under 4% of the state’s population, but as of May 12, 2020, they make up 6.44% of the state’s deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. While the coronavirus outbreak and response may be impacting all of us, it isn’t doing so equally, and Black/African American Coloradans are experiencing a disproportionate impact.

Data from public health departments isn’t the only data we have showing this reality. Our April 2020 survey of 1,100 Coloradans, conducted in partnership with Healthier Colorado and Magellan Strategies, highlights some of the ways Black/African American Coloradans have been hit hard by the virus. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Black/African American Coloradans are feeling pessimistic