DALLAS, Sept 8, 2021 - The American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, and its Revive initiative, a fundraising and education initiative for content creators, livestreamers and gamers, is raising awareness of the barriers to cardiovascular health and mental well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community with the first-ever "Live Fierce Island" Charity Stream-a-thon on the streaming platform Twitch.
From September 9 through 13, participating streamers will play Animal Crossing on Twitch - giving their islands Pride-inspired makeovers - while raising funds for the American Heart Association with their followers who tune in. Streamers' Pride-themed islands underscore the need to celebrate Pride year-round, and also bring awareness to the unique risk factors that LGBTQIA+ adults experience which contribute to poor cardiovascular health.
The week-long event will culminate on September 13 at 2 p.m. PT/4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET with a finale event hosted by drag queen, legend, icon and star, Trixie Mattel, who will review the final Animal Crossing island designs and lead a roundtable discussion with streamers to discuss mental and cardiovascular health in the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate the streamers' work at twitch.tv/TrixieMattel.
"It's a pleasure to be involved with such an amazing cause," said Mattel. "I have family members and loved ones that have struggled with depression and other mental health issues, and I've seen how hard it can be. I've been learning a lot about the health disparities that exist in the LQBTQIA+ community and the mental health effects on cardiovascular health, and I'm thrilled to be doing my part to raise awareness and critical funds for the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association."
Other well-known LGBTGIA+ streamers participating in Live Fierce Island are MischaCrossing, DEERE, Toph, iGeekedOut, AndrewArcade, LondynBradshaw and JeffBrutlag.
There is mounting evidence that LGBTQIA+ adults experience disparities across several cardiovascular risk factors compared with their cisgender, heterosexual peers. According to a recent American Heart Association statement, Assessing and Addressing Cardiovascular Health in LGBTQ Adults, unique healthcare barriers for LGBTQIA+ people include:
- LGBTQIA+ adults report experiencing high rates of discrimination in health care settings[1].
o More than half (56%) of LGBTQIA+ adults and 70% of those who are transgender or gender non-conforming report experiencing some form of discrimination from a health care professional.
- Fear of discrimination can translate to LGBTQIA+ adults delaying primary or preventive care, or lack of trust toward health care professionals.
- LGBTQIA+ adults experience multiple, interrelated psychological and social stressors, including exposure to discrimination and violence. While data on how these stressors affect their cardiovascular health is limited, there is evidence that mental health has direct effects on physical health, and stressors can contribute to increased inflammation, which impacts heart health.
o LGBTQIA+ populations may face unique stressors, such as family rejection and anxiety over concealment of their sexual orientation or gender identity. [2]
o LBGTQIA+ adults in historically excluded racial or ethnic groups all experience higher poverty levels, insecure housing, and fewer health care options than their white LGBTQIA+ peers.[3]
