Program Series Promotes Equal Health In The LGBTQ+ Community

East Brunswick Public Library teams up with ScreenNJ: Cancer Prevention Education and Detection for the “LGBTQ + Equal Health For Everyone” program series.

ScreenNJ is a statewide program carried out in partnership with Rutgers Institute of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Health, and healthcare and community organizations across the state.

The three programs are held online and feature healthcare professionals discussing issues for the LGBTQ+ community. The programs are as follows:

Introduction to Health Disparities in the LGBTQ+ Community on Tuesday, May 30, 7:00 pm. Topics covered include an introduction to LGBTQ+ terminology (including the difference between biological sex, gender, and sexual orientation), information on common health disparities and barriers to care, and current resources available in NJ.

Tobacco Use in the LGBTQ+ Community on Thursday, June 8, 7:00 pm. Topics covered include smoking and tobacco use behaviors in the LGBTQ+ community, factors that influence smoking, and lung cancer screening information and resources.

Breast/Chest Health for the LGBTQ+ Community on Thursday, June 15, 7:00 pm. Topics include learning about breast cancer basics and prevention, screening guidelines for both the LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ community, and providing information on reducing your risk for breast/chest cancer.

The programs are led by Ashley Purper, a Community Cancer Control Specialist with Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ. As part of the community outreach and engagement team, she is responsible for educating the community on various cancer prevention and screening topics through workshops and other outreach opportunities.

Purper obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology from West Chester University and began working with the Cancer Institute after obtaining her Master of Public Health Degree in 2021"

All three programs will be held online using Zoom. Registration and additional information can be found online at www.tinyurl.com/lgbthealtheq.

These programs are offered through Just For The Health Of It!, East Brunswick Public Library’s consumer health and wellness information initiative. Upcoming programs and related resources can be found online at www.justforthehealthofit.org.