Lesbian Health Research Center
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Lesbian Health Research Center |
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The E-Newsletter of the Lesbian Health Research Center at UCSF Vol 2, No 2
Lesbian Health Matters
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Welcome to the fourth edition of Lesbian Health Matters, the biannual, e-newsletter of the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) at UCSF. On Saturday, December 11th, we will have a wonderful opportunity to come together to celebrate our fine work this year at our second annual benefit Holiday Gala, featuring Suede and Master of Ceremonies comedian Kelli Dunham. The evening will include a fabulous sit down dinner, an exceptional concert and dancing! On January 1, 2005, AB 205, the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003, will take effect. We’ve included in this issue an important article, contributed by Deb L. Kinney, Esq., that will provide an overview of this act and help to begin to clarify some of the nuances and complications. Other highlights of this edition include:
On behalf of LHRC I wish you and your families – chosen, created and natural – a healthy and happy holiday season and new year!
Maureen A. Kenney,
Principal, Comet Communication |
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LHRC Holiday Benefit Gala |
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LHRC Holiday Benefit Gala
Benefiting the Lesbian Health Research Center @ UCSF Come out and celebrate with friends in support of LHRC! Followed by a sit-down catered dinner – choose from our menu options:
After dinner enjoy a concert featuring Suede with special guest David Pearl accompanying her on the piano and close the night hour with dancing. Get your tickets now and pass this information along to a friend!
Individual Tickets $150
Meet the Artist Imagine a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and Bette Midler, add a dash of Louis Armstrong, and you might get some idea of Suede's unique musical talents and abilities. One part rat pack and one part Rosie Clooney, Suede is the "Diva la Difference" and the swinginest singer in town! Think sophisticated pop/jazz, think naughty blues with a sizzling trumpet, think love songs that will make you swoon, think funny, think- Wow-what a voice! This consummate entertainer sings original material and pop, blues and jazz standards like nobody you've ever heard. Suede accompanies herself on piano, trumpet, and guitar, or plays with her fabulous band: Mr. David Pearl on piano and either Mr. Max Murray or Ms. Sue Williams on bass. Mr. Steve Holloway on drums is the newest addition to this talented group. A native of New York, Suede knew early on that she wanted to make singing her life. Her natural talent wowed friends and family throughout her childhood, culminating in her first "bar gigs" while still in high school. Completely self taught until her college years, Suede then began formal training in classical voice and trumpet, obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree before launching her musical career shortly after graduation. She started out in the Washington/Baltimore area playing locals clubs from Harrisburg, PA to Richmond, VA seven nights a week, booking the gigs, running her own sound and traveling in her trusty Toyota hatchback, which somehow fit all her instruments and sound gear. Indeed, the requisite dues have been paid, as Suede has evolved from playing 'Proud Mary' behind chicken wire to packing the best concert halls and jazz clubs in the US and Europe. Easily Suede Music, her own record label founded in 1988, allows Suede to maintain artistic control and make independent creative choices in her work. From unbelievable A Cappella to "bring down the house" belting blues, Suede delivers it all with her own unique blend of warmth, wit and musical artistry. |
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Salon Series |
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The Second Annual Lesbian Health Salon Series Following on from last year’s success the Lesbian Health Salon Series organized by the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) and co-sponsored by Bay Area Community of Women (BACW) kicked off on Thursday, October 21st (Series Schedule Below). Each Salon in the series includes a meet and mingle hour followed by an informal, interactive discussion on a selected topic led by LHRC medical and research leaders. There is no charge to attend. The Salon Series was initiated last year by LHRC Community Leadership Circle co-chair, Jan Corlett, PhD. At each event the question of how lesbian health differs from women's health in general is briefly addressed. Timeframe for each Salon is 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. WHO HOW to Request More Information -
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Upcoming Events
November 18, 2004 - Thursday
January 20, 2005 - Thursday
February 17, 2005 - Thursday
March 17, 2005 - Thursday
April 21, 2005 - Thursday
LHRC Annual Holiday Gala
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association's Annual Conference
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Berkeley Rep night/OUT Benefit For LHRC WORLD PREMIERE Contact:
Maureen A. Kenney,
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 night/OUT at the Berkeley Rep a benefit for the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) Reserve your place NOW for the Berkeley Rep ‘NightOUT’ Performance and WORLD PREMIERE of
FÊTES DE LA NUIT
on Thursday, February 10, 2005 |
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AB 205 |
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The New Domestic Partner Rights and
Responsibility Act of 2003 by Deb L. Kinney, Esq. On January 1, 2005, AB 205, the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003, will take effect. The law gives California state registered domestic partners all of the rights and responsibilities that married people have under state law. This will include such rights as privileged communications, the right to bring lawsuits on behalf of one's partner and the right to file for state benefits on behalf of one's partner. Employers will be required to offer the same benefits to domestic partners that they offer to spouses. Partners of state employees will be eligible for survivor benefits and retirement benefits. In addition to these new rights, registered domestic partners will also have some real responsibilities. If domestic partners dissolve their relationship, one partner may be eligible for spousal support, and there may be a forced division of shared assets. These issues will be decided in family court, more commonly known as divorce court. The two-year delay between the signing and implementation of the law allows already registered couples a chance to 'opt out' until December 31, 2004, or to create property agreements if they do not want to share assets. Sharing of assets, known also as community
property rights, creates some issues both for couples who have significant
wealth and those of more modest means. A domestic partner who receives state
benefits will most likely be classified as having 'spousal' income when
qualifying. The combination of the incomes of two domestic partners could
disqualify certain persons from continuing to receive state benefits. At
this time it is not expected that the federally mandated benefit programs
will recognize domestic partnership. For those earning money, it is unclear
how the IRS will characterize the sharing of income earned or unearned. It
is possible that community property could trigger gift or income tax. Estate
planning can help protect you against these penalties, and at the same time
allow you to leave behind a charitable legacy in your community. In order to fully protect yourself and your
family, it is necessary to make an affirmative statement about how your
affairs should be handled during incapacity and in the event of death. It is
important for domestic partners and non-registered LGBT couples to be
thoughtful about how they hold title to property so that they can minimize
income, gift and estate taxes. Creating rights for each other that extend
beyond state lines remains extremely important. Working with estate planning
attorneys who are familiar with the new laws and who understand the nuances
of LGBT planning will allow you to make the best possible use of all the
tools and techniques available. |
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PCOS |
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: More Common in Lesbian
Women? By Paula Amato, M.D., Assistant Professor Department of OB/GYN, Baylor College of Medicine Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder affecting 5-10% of women of reproductive age. Common clinical features of PCOS include irregular periods, excess hair growth (hirsutism), obesity, and infertility. Ultrasound examination often demonstrates the classic polycystic ovary appearance characterized by several small follicles arranged around the periphery of the ovary (the so-called “string of pearls” sign). Elevated androgen (male hormone) levels and insulin resistance are common biochemical features of PCOS. Insulin resistance is defined as a subnormal biological response to insulin. The diagnosis of PCOS also requires the exclusion of other causes of irregular periods. A study of women undergoing fertility treatment with intrauterine insemination found that the prevalence of PCOS was significantly higher in lesbian women compared with heterosexual women (42% vs. 14%), while the prevalence of tubal disease was similar in both groups.1 This finding has yet to be confirmed in larger, population-based studies. The underlying cause of PCOS remains unknown. There appears to be evidence for a genetic component in PCOS based on family studies. The clinical expression of PCOS is extremely variable from one individual to another. It is likely that a series of different genes can predispose to PCOS and that these can be modulated by environmental factors, such as obesity. Women with PCOS are at increased risk for
infertility, endometrial cancer, type II diabetes, and possibly
cardiovascular disease. Thus, patients with PCOS should be screened for
diabetes, an elevated cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Management of
these conditions is part of the overall primary care prevention strategy. Recently, insulin-sensitizing medications, such as metformin, have been used in the treatment of PCOS. Metformin has been shown to reduce androgen and insulin levels, ameliorate menstrual patterns, and increase ovulation and pregnancy rates in women with PCOS. The beneficial role of metformin as an adjuvant to treatment of infertility has been well-established. However, the effects of long-term treatment are currently under investigation.
In patients who present with infertility
and desiring pregnancy, ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate is
usually first-line therapy. In patients who fail to conceive on clomiphene,
alternatives include metformin and/or injectable gonadotropins. 1. Agrawal R, Sharma S, Prelevic G, Bailey J, Bekir J, Conway G. The prevalence of polycystic ovaries and polycystic ovary syndrome in lesbian compared with heterosexual women. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology Annual Meeting, 2003. Abstract #O-070. |
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Favorite Websites |
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Favorite Web Sites Regarding LGBT & Aging Issues
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About |
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About Lesbian Health Matters Lesbian Health Matters is the quarterly e-newsletter of the Lesbian Health Research Center (LHRC) distributed by e-mail and available on our Web site: www.lesbianhealthinfo.org. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or comment, please send an e-mail to: newsletter@lesbianhealthinfo.org . Lesbian Health Matters Staff |
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Editor-In Chief Maureen A. Kenney, Principal, Comet Communication
Contributors: § Paula Amato, M.D.; § Deb L. Kinney, Esq,; § Patricia Robertson, MD; and, § Joanna Sickler |
Copy Editors: § Suzanne Dibble, RN, DNSc; and, § Maureen A. Kenney
Web Master § Suzanne Dibble, RN, DNSc § Dixie Horning § Patricia Robertson, MD |
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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 |
