Lesbian Health Research Center
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Lesbian Health Research Center |
The E-Newsletter of the Lesbian Health Research Center at UCSF Vol 2, No 1Lesbian Health Matters |
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Saturday, June 19, 2004 Welcome to the third edition of
Lesbian Health Matters, the quarterly e-newsletter of the
Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) at UCSF.
On behalf of LHRC I wish you and your families – chosen, created and natural – a healthy and happy Pride!
– Maureen A. Kenney, Principal,
Comet Communication |
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Our Champions |
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Celebrating Our Champions!
A Gala Benefit for LHRC Saturday, June 19th San Francisco Jewish Community Center 3200 California (@ Presidio) San Francisco, CA 94110
· Cocktail and Hors d'oeuvre Reception, Music; and, · Silent Auction 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM · Seated Dessert, Awards Program and, Entertainment; followed by, · Dancing with DJ Page Hodel
We will begin the evening with distinguished guests who will help us to
kick off our celebration:
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Stephanie Smith, |
| Why Does Lesbian Health Matter?
The Lesbian Health Research Center has challenged many of us to take a closer look at why the time has come to bring lesbian health matters out of the closet. LHRC has generated great interest and excitement about lesbian health. We recently asked a random sampling of women from our broader community this question: “Why does lesbian health matter?” And, we’re talking! From a business woman to a student to health care professionals, here’s what some women from the San Francisco Bay Area had to say: “Lesbian health matters because we have unique health concerns that very few institutions are addressing. We have higher rates of some cancers, our STD issues are different, there's more substance abuse among lesbians, we have unique concerns around parenting and reproductive health, there is more of an issue of access to healthcare and there are challenges of finding healthcare workers who address lesbian issues and health concerns.” Susan Hein Tax Associate Babcock and Brown “I think lesbian health matters because we tend to be an invisible community in the health care realm. Many lesbians feel that they are immune from issues like STDs. We hear a lot about gay men and straight people using protection and getting tested, but the risk of spreading disease in the lesbian community is downplayed and utterly ignored.” Jenni Rowley Student Nurse, BSN Graduating in Spring 2005 “Lesbian health matters because there are many diseases for which lesbians are at greater risk – for example, breast cancer due to a lower incidence of having given birth and/or giving birth later in life and, other types of cancers due to a higher incidence of smoking in the gay community as a whole. LHRC does an amazing job of education in the lesbian community, the medical community and the public at large through their research studies and training. Hopefully, this will then have a ripple effect and improve health outcomes for lesbians.” Jill Ford, RN, MSN Nurse Coordinator UCSF Center for Reproductive Health “Building on the premise that as lesbians we do not build our lives on the sexual habits or practices of men, this makes us fundamentally unique and an intriguing cohort for study. There’s important information to be gleamed about our distinctive perspective regarding sexuality and health.” Mitz Merrill, MA Occupational Therapist |
Lesbians, Health and The Law 4th Annual Conference on Lesbian Health Research Co-sponsored by LHRC and the NCLR Saturday, June 19th Legal issues that affect lesbian health will be the focus of ‘Lesbians, Health and The Law’, the 4th annual conference on lesbian health research which will be held in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, June 19, 2004. Co-sponsored by the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) and the National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the event will he held at the UCSF Laurel Heights Conference Center, 3333 California Street, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. "What's special about lesbian health?” "What's special about lesbian health? We'll answer that question all day long at the conference,” said Suzanne Dibble, RN, DNSc, co-director of the LHRC. "We invite women to arm themselves with knowledge to help them take control of their health, their lives and their futures." Some of the discussion topics will include: · Same-Sex Marriage, · Gay & Lesbian Parenting; and, · Aging – LHRC is part of the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging. Services Health screenings for glucose, blood pressure and body mass index will be available throughout the day, as well as access to acupuncturist and massage therapist services. Those attending will be welcomed by: · Suzanne Dibble, RN, DNSc, co-director of the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) and adjunct professor at the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging (IHA); · Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR); and, · Patty Robertson, MD, co-director of LHRC and a perinatologist at UCSF Medical Center Film The conference will conclude with a screening of the movie Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House, a documentary directed by academy award-nominated filmmaker Deborah Dickson. The film depicts the story of a longstanding couple who won a landmark lawsuit in 1994 that provided domestic partner benefits for all New York City employees. Hotel Information The Canterbury Hotel near Union Square offers a special rate for the Lesbian Health Research Conference and Gala Benefit attendees: $110 per night single/double. Additional persons are $15.00 each. For more details and to make reservations with the hotel: 415-486-5115. Valet parking is available. Parking is also available nearby (one block from hotel) at the Butterick Garage at 840 Sutter Street: 415-885-1177. Register For Lesbians, Health and The Law For more information about the conference and registration, please visit the LHRC Web site: http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org or call Stacey Carter at the LHRC office: 415-502-5209. |
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From NPR, Scientific Research on the Children of Gay Parents Stirs Disagreement |
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Families Like Mine What is it really like to grow up with gay parents? Abigail Garner was five years old when her mother and father divorced and her dad came out as gay. Growing up immersed in gay culture, she now calls herself a "culturally queer" heterosexual woman. As a child, she often found herself in the middle of the political and moral debates surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parenting. At the age of twenty-two, she began to speak publicly about her family and has since become a nationally recognized advocate for the estimated 10 million children growing up with LGBT parents. The creator of FamiliesLikeMine.com, Garner has written a deeply personal and much-needed book about gay parenting, from the seldom-heard perspective of grown children raised in these families. Based on eight years of activism, combined with interviews with more than fifty sons and daughters, Families Like Mine debunks the anti-gay myth that these children grow up damaged and confused. At the same time, Garner's book refutes the popular pro-gay sentiment that these children turn out "just like everyone else." In addition to the typical stresses of growing up, the unique pressures these children face are not due to their parents' sexuality, but rather to homophobia and prejudice. Using a rich blend of journalism and memoir, Garner offers empathetic yet unapologetic opinions about the gifts and challenges of being raised in families that are often labeled "controversial." As more LGBT people are pursuing
parenthood and as the visibility of gay parenting is rapidly increasing,
many of the questions about these families focus on the "best interests"
of their children. Eloquent and sophisticated, Families Like Mine
addresses these questions, providing an invaluable insider's perspective
for LGBT parents, their families and their allies. |
National Public Radio Morning Edition May 24, 2004 Analysis: Scientific research on the children of gay parents stirs disagreement Edition: 10:00-11:00 AM To listen
to the program, go to
LGBT Families: Fertility, Pregnancy and Adoption List of Resources Fertility Clinics LGBT Family Organizations Adoption Information Lesbian and Gay Parenting Books
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About Lesbian Health Matters
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Lesbian Health Researcher's Meeting In late February 2004, twelve lesbian health researchers met and discussed their current research projects. Some of the topics presented included various health issues specific to lesbians -- for example: · Health issues for elder lesbians of African descent; · Lesbian pregnancy; · Mental health issues – e.g., o The self-esteem and confidence of women who are lesbians; and, o How being "in the closet" can affect mental health · Smoking and substance abuse in lesbians versus heterosexual women; and, · Socializing skills of young and newly-out lesbians. Within the lesbian pregnancy topic, there was discussion concerning postpartum depression in lesbians and their partners compared to unmarried heterosexual couples. It is hopeful that this study (associated with UCSF) will be funded in the near future. Also discussed was the difficulty of obtaining funding for any lesbian health research due especially to the current political climate. The researchers meet 2 to 3 times a year, sponsored by LHRC. Participants Needed For Two LHRC Studies 1. Mixed-Race Lesbian Couples Planning
Alternative Insemination; and,
Help our community better prepare for the future … results of these
studies could contribute to the betterment of lesbian and bisexual women’s
health. |
Senior Midwife from Sweden Visits LHRC Nicole Silverstolpe-Ghatan, Senior Midwife at Danderyds Hospital, visited LHRC for two days to discuss the obstetric care of LGBT families. Nicole had read Dr. Patricia Robertson’s recent article on “Offering High Quality Ob-Gyn Care to Your Lesbian Patients” in Contemporary Ob-Gyn, which had been distributed to thousands of doctors across the United States, from a doctor-friend in Los Angeles who knew that Nicole was interested in improving the quality of obstetric care provided to the LGTB community in Sweden. Nicole then visited the LHRC web site, www.lesbianhealthinfo.org, and was fascinated by the projects of LHRC, so she decided to visit LHRC in San Francisco herself this past February. Nicole herself is heterosexual, and the mother of four children in Stockholm. Nicole had recently instituted a program for gay and lesbian parents-to-be in Stockholm at the hospital where she is Senior Midwife: Danderyds Hospital. This hospital has the largest delivery ward of the Nordic countries, with about 5,500 births per year. Sixty midwives, fifty nurses, and five doctors provide 24/7 obstetric care there, for all women except those having very premature babies. Healthcare in Sweden is free, and the birth mother can stay at home with salary for one year, and without pay but job protection for an additional 6 months. Partners get 2 weeks of leave with pay at the time of the birth, and an additional optional month without pay. There is current a “Gaybe” boom in Sweden, now that Swedish law allows all citizens to adopt the child of their partner. Nicole also thinks that public opinion has changed in Sweden, making it more acceptable that homosexuals are parents. Currently many Swedish lesbians travel to Denmark for insemination, since it is still against the law in Sweden, although that is currently under discussion. Nicole’s program for LGBT parents-to-be includes special birthing classes for them, as well as sensitive care during the birthing process. The charts of LGTB parents-to-be are labeled with a rainbow, so that staff are sensitized to special issues, such as avoiding routine questions about birth control after birth. The first group of LGBT parents to go through her program had a high complication rate (50% Cesarean Section rate), and Nicole wanted to visit LHRC to discuss this, as well as to explore other ways to help LGTB parents feel secure and be treated well at her hospital. She is very interested in helping mothers and families feel safe during the birth process, so that the birth would be an individual growth experience and not a negative experience. Nicole’s two day visit started with observing Dr. Robertson (Co-Director of LHRC and faculty member at UCSF) teach a small group of medical students an LGTB curriculum, the first module ever taught at UCSF on “Primary Care Issues of LGTB Persons”. The three cases discussed included a lesbian couple with an infant in which one member of the couple had a breast lump. Nicole then visited the Labor and Delivery Suite of Long Hospital at UCSF, visiting with a lesbian patient who had just had her second baby with FOGG (Faculty Obstetrics and Gynecology Group) at UCSF. Nicole then visited The UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health at Mount Zion Hospital, where another FOGG midwife was seeing patients that day, Cheri van Hoover. That evening Dr. Robertson gave a dinner at her home in Nicole’s honor with other midwives in the Bay Area at her home. The following day Nicole visited the Delivery Suite at San Francisco General Hospital with midwife Holly Cost on the faculty there, and then visited the office of Sherron Mills, nurse practitioner, who has an insemination practice which has been responsible for the births of about 1300 babies of lesbians over the past 2 decades in California. Nicole then visited the administrative offices of LHRC at the UCSF Laurel Heights campus, meeting with members of LHRC Executive Committee. Her visit ended with a visit to Lyon-Martin Clinic and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. During her visits at the delivery suites in San Francisco, Nicole noted the similarity in both suites and in her hospital in Sweden, about how the non-pregnant partner often feels left out of the birthing process, e.g. not being identified by medical personnel as the other parent. Nicole was surprised by the lack of hierarchy between the nurses and the doctors in San Francisco, and liked their approach to the patient as a team. She felt that the team approach lended itself to easier feedback to both the nurses and doctors working together. She was also surprised about the number of family/visitors allowed in the birthing room who were not directly working with the laboring mother, as in Sweden, unless the family member is working directly with the mother, they are not allowed in the birthing room. Nicole states “My visit to LHRC was also wonderful in that as birth professionals, we easily understood what the issues were despite the language challenges at times, as these are world-wide issues”. Nicole hopes that before she leaves her job at Danderryds Hospital, that she will develop an insemination program for lesbians, as well as further develop the prenatal classes and birthing program for LGTB families. LHRC was indeed fortunate to have this international exchange of ideas on how to improve obstetrical care for all LGTB families, and looks forward to continuing this new relationship. |
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LESBIAN HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER An Affiliate of The UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health LHRC's Community Leadership Circle includes a group of dedicated volunteers and supporters who devote expertise and resources in support of the Center's programs and goals. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ‘BROTHERS FOR SISTERS’ &
OTHERS SUPPORTING LHRC COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CIRCLE |
 Dear Friends,The Community Leadership Circle is actively engaged in creating events to support the vital work of the Lesbian Health Research Center. Many of you joined us for our Holiday Gala in December, and enjoyed a festive evening with a concert by the fabulous Suede, and dancing to the well mixed sounds of Page Hodel. Suede stopped by to see us in May while she was in San Francisco, and sang for us at Mecca to promote our upcoming benefit. Page will be there for us at our June Benefit. We would like to express our sincere thanks to both of them for their continuing support of LHRC. Our monthly salon series, launched last September, has been an overwhelming success in its’ first season. I would like to personally thank all the women who opened their homes and volunteered their time to make this series possible. [See box for complete list.] We began each salon by posing the question – “How is lesbian health different, and why does it matter?” All of us have multiple ways of identifying ourselves, and we generally do so in relation to our gender, sexual orientation, family, occupation and ethnicity. All of these identities have a significant impact on our health. For example, family history may bring increased risks of cancer or other diseases; occupation and employment dictates health insurance options for us, our partners and our children; and sexual orientation may pose challenges in obtaining comfortable medical care – are you “out” to your doctor? I have enjoyed these salons immensely, and I look forward to next season when we will continue to explore health care issues through a lesbian lens. Watch for the announcement of the new series in September.
Jan
Corlett, PhD (Co-Chair / Administration) |
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From Our Spring Photo Gallery
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Privacy Statement |
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The Lesbian Health Research Center has a comprehensive and growing web site that is just a click away. http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org/ Look for information on Events and
News, Research, Useful Links, and Resources. Remember to check the
events calendar for updates, and enjoy our photo gallery. |
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| ©2004 Lesbian Health Research Center | Newsletter Archive |
Saturday, June 19, 2004, San
Francisco
Fun-loving, quick-witted musical talent
