Shaun Robinson says the report is "a standard to rally around". The head of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation says a critical report into the state of healthcare for GLBTI New Zealanders is a call to action not only for the health system, but also for the community itself to create change. Michael Stevens' report Rainbow Health takes the pulse of healthcare for the 'rainbow community'. The first of its kind, it finds there is no provision for the health needs of GLBTI people, despite greater levels of suicide, depression and substance abuse, as well as higher levels of obesity, and certain forms of cancer. Stevens also points to a lack of targeted research, which means GLBTI health needs are hidden, and therefore excluded from policy. New Zealand AIDS Foundation CEO Shaun Robinson says Stevens' report shines a 'glaring spotlight' on the health inequalities that exist for the rainbow community. He says while his organisation's own focus is particularly on the health of gay and bisexual men, this has made it all too aware of statistics which beg plenty of questions. "There are many health issues where the burden falls overwhelmingly on gay and bisexual men; but this is neither recognised, quantified or responded to," he says. Robinson cites New Zealand figures showing HIV is 80 per cent a gay and bi men's issue, 83 per cent of syphilis cases affect gay and bisexual men, and anal cancer is more of a risk to the group than cervical cancer is to women. "There is a sub Hep C sexually transmitted epidemic that is gay men specific... and on and on and on." He says the report authoritatively stands alongside what NZAF has been saying - "that it's a scandal that the health system as a whole does not recognise or respond to the specific health needs of gay and bisexual men and the rest of the rainbow community". Stevens' report culminates in clear recommendations which include equal and culturally-safe access to general and mental health services and addressing the health needs of takatāpui. He says there also needs to support and resources for these to happen, and full consultation with the community along the way. The final recommendation is for research and data collection on the physical and mental health needs of rainbow communities to be a priority, something many in the field or who work in the community have been long crowing for. Robinson says the recommendations are clear and action focused and the Foundation wholeheartedly supports them. "The lack of real information about many of the specific healthy issues NZAF is concerned about that interface with HIV makes it very hard to take a rights-based public health response and get the health system and the community to respond." he says. "A lot of data is there within the Auckland DHB services but the dots are not being joined. There is potential to work with ADHB to get a better handle on the extent of the issues at last in Auckland which would make a good start on mapping size and emphasis of gay and bisexual men's health issues." Robinson says in the time of marriage equality, it is now more than high time for health equality. "This research is a flag in the ground for the next wave of activism and action for true human rights. It's a standard to rally around and take our country and community even further into true social justice and equality." A digital version of the full report is expected to be available next week. Jacqui Stanford - 26th October 2013