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UPI
6 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
U.S. Central Command says it killed senior ISIS leader, two adult sons
Gen. Michael E. Kurilla announced Friday that Central Command forces killed a senior ISIS leader an his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons. File photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo July 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Central Command announced Friday that it had conducted an operation in Aleppo, Syria, killing a senior Islamic State leader and his two adult sons. Those killed in the raid by U.S. forces were: Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. The sons were also affiliated with ISIS, a press release said. Three women and three children also were there and were unharmed, officials said. "We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command commander. "ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. "Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland." The press release said the ISIS officials threaten the United States and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian government. The attack comes weeks after the White House ordered a drawdown of U.S. military presence in Syria, which had about 2,000 personnel on eight bases in the area. Hundreds have returned home recently. Syria's Foreign Ministry released a statement earlier on Friday that said its representatives had met with American and French officials to "reinforce our cooperation on the shared fight against terrorism in all forms, and strengthen the capacities of the Syrian government to deal with security challenges through institutions of the state."
UPI
20-07-2025
- Health
- UPI
Optional LGBTQ suicide prevention lifeline service ends
LGBTQ supporters march to the U.S. Capitol during WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., on June 8 but on Thursday lost access to a suicide prevention lifeline option tailored for that community. File Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo July 19 (UPI) -- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ceased its optional service for LGBTQ callers on Thursday after the Trump administration in June ordered it to end. Callers can dial 988 to reach the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which became active three years ago, but there is no option for LGBTQ callers, many of whom are young. "This is a tragic moment," said Mark Henson, vice president of government affairs and advocacy for The Trevor Project. "Many LGBTQ youth who use these services didn't know they existed until they called 988 and found out there is someone on the other end of the line that knows what they've gone through and cares deeply for them," Henson said. The non-profit Trevor Project has operated the specialized LGBTQ suicide lifeline since 2022, but the "press 3 option" for LGBTQ callers no longer is available. Although the option is gone, LGBTQ callers will be helped, but they won't be directed to those who might specialize in assisting those who identify as LGBTQ. "Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, mental health crises or any other kind of emotional distress," officials for the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said. SAMHSA is the federal agency tasked with managing the 988 suicide lifeline after President Donald Trump signed enabling legislation during his first term in office. Congress had allocated $33 million for the LGBTQ lifeline for 2025, but those funds have been spent, according to SAMHSA. Instead of seeking more funds, the Trump administration ended the option.
UPI
18-06-2025
- Health
- UPI
Trump administration ending LGBTQ suicide hotline in July
Supporters of the LGBTQ community march to the U.S. Capitol on June 8. A specialized suicide lifeline for the LGBTQ community is ending on July 17. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline no longer will offer a specialized service for LGBTQ callers as of July 17. The Trump administration issued a stop-work order to the non-profit Trevor Project, which has operated the specialized 988 LGBTQ suicide lifeline since 2022, the New York Times reported. Officials with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration confirmed the stop-work order calls for the hotline to cease operation on July 17. Suicide prevention services remain available, but there no longer will be a "Press 3 option" for LGBTQ callers. "Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises or any other kind of emotional distress," SAMHSA officials said in a prepared statement. Trevor Project Chief Executive Officer Jaymes Black said the end of the specialized hotline is very bad for the LGBTQ community. "This is devastating, to say the least," Black told The Hill. "Suicide prevention is about people, not politics." He called the specialized hotline a "bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible." The LGBTQ suicide prevention service was established in 2022 to address the needs of respective callers, many of whom "experience distinct mental health issues," the New York Times reported. Such issues include discrimination and rejection by family members, which contributes to high suicide rates within the LGBTQ community. SAMHSA officials said the Press 3 service option received $29.7 million in federal funding for the 2023 fiscal year and $33 million for each of the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The specialized hotline's entire 2025 budget was spent as of June, and no more funding is coming, according to SAMHSA. The suicide prevention hotline will get the same $520 million in funding for the 2026 fiscal year as it did for 2025, Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Rachel Cauley told NBC News. The budget won't "grant taxpayer money to a chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by 'counselors' without consent or knowledge of their parents," Cauley said. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was established in 2005, and President Donald Trump in 2020 signed legislation establishing the specialized service for LGBTQ callers. The specialized service received about 1.3 million calls, texts and online chat messages since 2022, according to SAMHSA. It also received an average of 2,100 contacts every day in February.
UPI
10-06-2025
- Health
- UPI
Supportive doctors help LGBTQ patients stay healthier
Marchers carry a pride banner in the WorldPride 2025 Parade in Washington on Saturday. A study shows supportive care boosts the health of the LGBTQ community and cuts costs. File Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo June 10 (UPI) -- When LGBTQ+ patients are unsure if they can be open about their identity and related health needs, it becomes more difficult for them to access high-quality health care. In our recently published research, my colleagues and I found that how LGBTQ+ people are treated at the doctor's office has a measurable effect on whether they stay up to date with lifesaving preventive care like flu shots, colorectal cancer screenings and HIV testing. Results of affirming care We examined how LGBTQ+ adults rated their health care provider across three areas: LGBTQ+ cultural competency, such as if providers used inclusive language on forms and in person; LGBTQ+ clinical competency, such as their doctor's knowledge on all aspects of their health; and experiences of discrimination, such as being told to seek care elsewhere. After analyzing survey data on the experiences of more than 950 LGBTQ+ adults from across the U.S., we saw that three clear patterns emerged. First, 34% of participants reported having positive health care experiences - meaning their providers were culturally and clinically competent about LGBTQ+ health needs, and did not discriminate against them. These patients were more likely to be up to date on at least one preventive service recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, compared to those receiving neutral or discriminatory care. Second, 60% of participants reported having neutral experiences, when their providers were clinically competent about LGBTQ+ health needs and didn't discriminate against them, but were not culturally competent. These patients were 43% less likely to get an HIV test compared to patients reporting affirming care. Third, 6% of participants reported experiencing discrimination, when their providers were neither culturally nor clinically competent on LGBTQ+ health. These patients were 24% less likely to get a colorectal cancer screening compared to patients reporting affirming care. Most LGBTQ+ adults in our study reported neutral or even discriminatory care, which leads to avoidable health risks and higher costs for the health system. This provides additional evidence that being supportive of LGBTQ+ patients has measurable improvements for health outcomes. Why preventive care matters Preventive care saves lives and saves money. When diseases like colorectal cancer or HIV are caught early, treatments are often simpler, more effective and less expensive. When LGBTQ+ patients are made to feel unwelcome or unsafe, we found that they are less likely to get routine preventive care, ultimately driving up long-term costs across the health system. States like North Carolina and Georgia that have more health systems participating in the Human Rights Campaign's Healthcare Equality Index, which evaluates policies and practices around LGBTQ+ care, had higher rates of LGBTQ+ patients reporting positive care experiences compared to states with few participating health systems, such as Tennessee and Alabama. Other researchers have found that health systems participating in the Healthcare Equality Index have lower rates of nurse burnout and better quality of care, along with higher patient satisfaction among all patients. Public health in crisis This study was originally funded by the National Institute on Aging, but it was among the first LGBTQ+-focused projects terminated by the Trump administration in its efforts to eliminate "gender ideology." Our team has continued the work independently to ensure that the over 1,250 participants who already shared their experiences and data would not have this information sit idly. Our findings reinforce what many LGBTQ+ patients already know - nonjudgmental and competent care is not a luxury, but a public health necessity. University of Illinois Chicago. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
UPI
08-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Marchers rally on the National Mall for WorldPride 2025
1 of 4 | Supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community march from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol as part of WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo June 8 (UPI) -- More than 1,000 people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday as part of WorldPride 2025 to protest what organizers called a "coordinated and systemic attack" on human rights. The rally, which promotes LGBTQ+ visibility with events around the world and pushes back on an increasingly hostile attitude towards gay, lesbian and transgender people that organizers said has been stepped up under the Trump administration. "Our fundamental freedoms -- and our very democracy -- are at risk," a statement on the WorldPride website said. "And if we fail to recognize the urgency of this moment, we'll only have ourselves to blame. Resist the marginalization and persecution of people just for being who they are." The Washington event, which saw marchers gather at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, is being hosted by DC's Capital Pride Alliance, which is marking 50 years of celebrating Pride Month in the capital. Marchers gathered near the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial waving rainbow colored Pride flags representing transgender and bisexual communities and held up signs that read "Proud and Gay," "Trans rights are human rights," and "Gender affirming care saved my life." The rally and march on the National Mall came a day after a march through the streets of Washington. The Sunday event is scheduled to conclude with a festival and concert. Former vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris made an unannounced appearance at the Sunday event. Hundreds of people gathered along the parade route, and marchers waved rainbow flags and balloons as they gathered along the steps and columns of the National City Christian Church. June is Pride Month and is celebrated this year amid President Donald Trump's push to remove transgender members from the military and roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies at federal agencies and at universities that receive federal money. WorldPride 2025 parade draws crowds in Washington Supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community march from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol as part of WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo
