Mautner Project Releases "The Heart Truth for Lesbians"

Many of the factors that increase a woman’s risk for heart disease—such as obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise—are prevalent in the lesbian community. Stress is also a major risk factor for women, and lesbians bear the added stress of anti-gay discrimination. There are also many barriers—including lack of health insurance, provider’s lack of awareness of lesbian health needs and institutionalized heterosexism and homophobia—that keep lesbians from receiving fair and equal access to quality healthcare.

Another problem is the lack of specific health education programs targeted specifically to lesbians. "Most mainstream health interventions do not use media, messages, or messengers that are effective in reaching our community, especially those of us who self-identify as butch or androgynous," says DeBold. This is evident from the use of the red dress as the mainstream campaign’s symbol to increase awareness of heart disease for women. Although grassroots health groups have made great strides in developing lesbian health programs, their efforts are limited due to lack of funding.

Although the 1990s were marked by increased recognition by the federal government of lesbian and gay health needs, since the 2000 election there has been a definite backward shift. The Institute of Medicine’s 1999 report Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and Directions for the Future clearly documented the healthcare disparities affecting lesbians. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HSS) own blueprint for the nation’s health, Healthy People 2010 (released in 2000), included sexual orientation as a marker of health disparities. But neither The National Healthcare Quality Report nor the National Healthcare Disparities Report issued last month by the HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality make any mention of lesbians or gays. "We are being treated as ‘the underserved population that dare not speak its name,’ says DeBold.

Although no funding was provided by the government, Mautner’s "Heart Truth for Lesbians" is a registered activity of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"By joining the Heart Truth campaign, the Mautner Project is not only educating our sisters about a serious health issue, we are also reminding mainstream health agencies that their commitment to improve the health of all women must include lesbians."

Founded in 1990, The Mautner Project is the national lesbian health organization. Its mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of women who partner with women and their families through direct services, research, education and advocacy.

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