Tag Archives: Lesbian health

National Women’s Health Week: Advocate for your health!

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May 13th–19th is National Women's Health Week

This week, May 13–19, marks the celebration of the 13th annual National Women’s Health Week. Initially, as I reflected upon the significance of this week, I felt uninspired. I realized I was disheartened and somewhat offended by the simplistic health messaging around National Women’s Health Week.

Looking at other Women’s Health Week resources, I found the same general health advice: eat healthy, exercise, seek routine preventive care, avoid unhealthy behaviors, and foster good mental health. Yes, these are all vital to maintaining health, but hasn’t almost everyone heard this advice at least 100 times? And shouldn’t people of all genders aim to practice these healthy behaviors? Of all the extremely important women’s health issues, this is what we focus on during a week dedicated to women’s health?

Many LBT women feel uncomfortable talking about their sexual orientation or gender identity, preventing them from getting the care they deserve.

I was ready to give up on this post when I was inspired by some simple words from my mother. She was a single mom who returned to college when my sisters and I were in elementary school. Despite having three daughters to raise alone, she managed to excel in school and eventually complete a graduate degree.

My mom is a fighter, and she fought for her health and the health of her children. She disagreed with healthcare providers if she was unsatisfied with their diagnosis or treatment plan. We lived in poverty, went through periods of being uninsured, and had limited access to competent healthcare providers. Yet, my mom always advocated for the best possible care. And, believe me, we got it.

I spoke to my mom a few days ago and we discussed some health problems she has been experiencing. She said to me, “Christina, why don’t doctors listen to their patients? I know my body better than anyone.” As we talked about her plans for seeking further care she told me that, “it always helps to be assertive.”

I was reminded why it’s important for all of us to participate in National Women’s Health week. This week is not just about knowing what behaviors lead to good health; it’s about empowering ourselves to be our own best health care advocates—especially as members of a traditionally marginalized (Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) community.

This means:

  1. Taking responsibility for engaging in healthy behaviors;
  2. Being educated about the health issues that affect us;
  3. And not being afraid to fight for the healthcare we all deserve.

In celebration of National Women’s Health week, take a stand for your health! If you haven’t spoken to a medical or behavioral health care provider recently, make an appointment. Are you overdue for an HIV or STD test? Get one in honor of Women’s Health Week!

Be proactive about your health. Too often, we ignore our health and wellness needs until we are sick. Fenway offers these free services to help educate and support you, so you can be an active participant in your own health:

  • Wellness Coaching Free 30-minute, individual sessions with a health educator to learn about resources and goal setting for tobacco cessation, healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy sleep habits. For more information contact Tricia Dougherty at 617.927.6169 or pdougherty@fenwayhealth.org.
  • Take Charge Series A series of free, evening group sessions with a health educator to discuss topics related to tobacco cessation, healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy sleep habits. For more information, contact Tricia Dougherty at 617.927.6169 or pdougherty@fenwayhealth.org.
  • Contraception Counseling Free sessions with a contraception counselor to discuss contraceptive methods and explore options that work for you. To schedule an appointment, call 617.927.6000.

We also have the following research opportunities for women who want to help us better understand Women’s Health:

  • LifeSkills A 12 month research study that focuses on empowering young trans women to reduce sexual risk and improve their lives. You can learn more about this study by emailing lifeskills@fenwayhealth.org.
  • Vaginal Ring Study A study investigating the use of a medicated vaginal ring for HIV prevention.  More information is available by contacting Vince Pancucci at 617-927-6450 or vpancucci@fenwayhealth.org .

Happy National Women’s Health Week and in the words of my mother: know your body and be assertive! 

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Recapping The Women’s Dinner Party 2012

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The Fenway Institute's Dr. Judith Bradford, Love Award Winner Urvashi Vaid, President & CEO Dr. Stephen Boswell, Board Chair Stewart B. Clifford, Jr., Director of Women's Health Dr. Jennifer Potter, and Dinner Party Co-Chairs Aimee Van Wagenen, Theresa Murray, and Gina Savageau. Photo: Marilyn Humphries

Thanks to everyone who helped make The Women’s Dinner Party a success!

Urvashi Vaid accepting the Dr. Susan M. Love Award from Dr. Judith Bradford.

All together, we raised over $375,000 in cash, pledges and in-kind support for Fenway Health’s life-saving services and programs for LGBT people.

None of this would be possible without our supporters, sponsors, and the countless others who worked tirelessly to make this night happen.

Dr. Susan M. Love Award honoree Urvashi Vaid made a powerful call to the lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women in the audience to ensure that leadership positions in the LGBT movement are more fully reflective of the diversity of our community. Vaid, who has been an activist in LGBT and other social justice movements for nearly three decades, urged the women in the audience to “step up and step out politically and philanthropically.” The Rainbow Times has great coverage of the evening and Vaid’s remarks.

Later in the evening, we shared this amazing video of Fenway supporters, staff, and patients celebrating Fenway’s work and the diversity of the community it serves.


Photographer Marilyn Humphries captured great shots of the show and later dancing to DJ Mocha. Also, Studio SMC set up a photo booth where guests posed for some memorable images.

Mayor Tom Menino may have said it best when he addressed the crowd at the beginning of the evening, “This isn’t the ‘Women’s Event’—It’s The Women’s Dinner Party!”

Were you there on Saturday? Let us know what you think. Share your favorite photos, memories, and quotes from the night! 

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Come Out For Health: National LGBT Health Awareness Week

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The 10th Annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week is March 26–30, 2012

March 26–30, 2012 is National LGBT Health Awareness Week, highlighting the disparities in access to culturally competent care and positive health outcomes between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their heterosexual counterparts. The health of the LGBT community has long been at the heart of Fenway’s mission; and while we have seen great progress, we still have a long journey to true health equity.

LGBT people have unique health and wellness needs and continue to be impacted by health disparities. For instance:

Compared to other men, MSM are at increased risk of major depression during adolescence and adulthood, bipolar disorder; and generalized anxiety.

  • Lesbian women are more likely than straight or bisexual women to be overweight and obese, increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease.
  • In 2009, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for an estimated 2% of the U.S. population but accounted for 64% of new HIV infections.
  • In one survey, 41% of transgender respondents had attempted suicide.
  • LGBT young people represent an alarmingly high proportion of homeless youths across the U.S.—an estimated 20–40%.
  • Many LGBT people turn to substance abuse to cope with increased stress. An estimated 20–30% of gay and transgender people abuse substances, compared to about 9% of the general population.

However, there have been many recent advances in the field of LGBT health. A year ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a historic report on LGBT health that highlights a number of issues, including:

  • LGBT youth have an elevated risk for attempted suicide and depression.
  • LGBT adults lack access to providers who are knowledgeable about LGBT health needs and fear of discrimination in health care settings.
  • LGBT elders are more likely to rely on friends and others as caregivers than biological family members, at least in part because they are less likely to have children.
  • Research has not been conducted evenly across sexual and gender minority populations, with more research focusing on gays and lesbians than on bisexual and transgender people.
  • Research has not adequately examined subpopulations, particularly racial and ethnic groups.

LGBT elders have higher rates of disability, depression, and loneliness compared to heterosexuals of similar ages.

The report also includes recommendations to better understand and address the unique health needs of LGBT Americans.

The U.S. Department  of Health and Human services details a number of accomplishments in the area of LGBT health, including better data collection on LGBT populations and a multi-year HRSA grant to The Fenway Institute to create a national LGBT health technical assistance and training center for community health centers.

Still, our work is far from over. This year’s National LGBT Health Awareness Week focuses on four core principles:

Consumer Empowerment
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals need to be educated about their health and empowered to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity with their providers. If you don’t feel comfortable with your current provider, there are resources to help you find LGBT-affirming care, including the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association provider directory.

Culturally Competent Services
Health care providers need more information and resources to help them better serve the LGBT community. To that end, The Fenway Institute has  released policy briefs on Why and How to gather sexual orientation and gender identity data in a clinical setting. The Fenway Institute has also launched a website for the National LGBT Health Education Center, which will provide educational programming and consultation for health care organizations with the goal of eliminating health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

More than 20% of transgender survey respondents reported having to teach their doctor about transgender care.

We must also continue to work toward better access to these services for LGBT individuals and support policies that make this possible. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans are roughly twice as likely to be uninsured as the general population—partly due to unequal legal recognition of their relationships and employment discrimination, including insufficient protection against being fired for sexual orientation or gender identity. If all employers offered domestic-partner benefits, the uninsured rates for same-sex and different-sex unmarried couples would decrease by as much as 43%.

Inclusive Policymaking
Congressional briefings are scheduled during LGBT Health Awareness but you can always advocate for more inclusive policies by contacting your local, state, and national representatives. 

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