Lupus Awareness Month

Lupus Awareness Month

BROOKLYN, NY  –Lupus is a complex, autoimmune disease that currently has no cure. This is also an illness that many – including those in the medical field, do not understand; making it harder to prevent and even harder for family and friends to be supportive. Details about the disease are still emerging, but some statistics are clear: lupus currently affects 1.5 million Americans with Black women bearing a disproportionate share.  According to the Lupus Foundation of American, lupus is two to three times more prevalent among women of color – African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans – than among Caucasian women.  Recent studies further indicate that lupus affects 1 in 537 young African American women.

“Advocating for one month throughout the year is simply not enough for us to combat this gruesome disease. I urge those affected indirectly and directly to continue to pump up the purple power and continue to advocate even once Lupus Awareness Month has passed.  I will continue to advocate by creating legislation that will improve the lives for those effected”, State Senator Kevin Parker

During the 2017-18 legislative session, Senator Kevin Parker’s was able to pass Senate Bill S.1703 that authorized the creation of a lupus awareness license plate, and the funds collected from its sale to be used for lupus research and education. Senator Parker continues to be a leader, lending his voice to this very important issue.

“As someone diagnosed with Lupus, I find that there is not nearly enough ongoing education and awareness around Lupus. I applaud Senator Parker’s efforts to continue to raise awareness all year long. I am excited to see the impact legislators and advocates can make to improve the quality of lives devastated by this cruel and unrelenting disease,” concluded Monique C. Gore-Massy, Lupus Lifestyle Ambassador /Advocate.

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