2008
The Lesbian Community Care Project
Monday January 5th The Lesbian Lifestyle will take part in blogging for lesbian health day. Already, several queer women bloggers have agreed to weigh in – taking the conversation wherever they think it needs to go. As you know, women’s individual voices are important to this movement – and the blogosphere has already demonstrated that its a natural place for queers and all women to not only build community but allow for our particular and specific voices to say what must be said. One of January’s Topics of the month with be Lesbian Health: health scares, health triumphs and health care policy/reform. Until then I hope you’ll take the time to learn a bit more about The Lesbian Community Care Project.
Founded by feminists in 1990, the Lesbian Community Cancer Project was created to making the medical establishment more sensitive and responsive to women, specifically lesbians, and to helping women make more informed decisions about their care.
Based on community feedback and surveys, LCCP and Howard Brown began a strategic alliance in 2004 that built on both organizations’ strengths and benefited the entire LGBT community. LCCP moved into Howard Brown Health Center, maintaining separate 501(c)3 statuses, but beginning work together on programmatic initiatives.
In 2007, holding the founders’ vision of creating a world in which lesbian health is a paramount priority, the board of directors of both LCCP and Howard Brown ushered in a new day. LCCP merged with Howard Brown, becoming the Lesbian Community Care Project, a program of Howard Brown Health Center. Both organizations recognized the potential created in merging and knew they could improve even more lesbians’ health as one organization.
Today LCCP is the lesbian heart of Howard Brown, improving the health of lesbian bisexual, and queer women and transgender individuals through groundbreaking research, sensitive medical care, programming and education on lesbian health topics and an array of mental health services, including quit smoking groups.
LCCP has been the recipient of numerous accolades including: the Human Rights Campaign Torch Award in 1996; induction to the City of Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1999; and Horizons’ Human First Award in 2002.
Mission
The Lesbian Community Care Project, a program of Howard Brown Health Center, promotes the health of lesbian, bisexual and queer women and transgender individuals through healthcare, advocacy, public education, research and programming.
The mission of Howard Brown is to promote the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons through the provision of health care and wellness programs, including clinical, educational, social service and research activities. Howard Brown designed these programs to serve gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons in a confidential, supportive, and nurturing environment. Howard Brown Health Center is committed to working cooperatively with other community-based organizations serving and contributing to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
This Summit is focused on addressing lesbians, bisexual women, queer women, and transgender people. We welcome all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities, and our important friends and allies, nationally and internationally.
Overview
We will come together to rebuild a multi-issue, multicultural women’s health movement focused on long-term strategic goals for lesbian/bi/queer women’s health and wellness that is reflective of the diversity of our community.
We are committed to creating access for marginalized individuals and communities. For more specific information, see Accessibility.
The summit approaches health issues from the perspective of those who face disparities and discrimination and who also generate health and resilience everyday. We will engage in deep thinking and extended discussion to create new responses and innovative programming that reflect our lives.
This summit will include speakers, panels, workshops, organizing meetings, interactive exercises, experiential education, creative festivities, yoga and other forms of self-care.
Principles
* The World Health Organization’s definition of health: “the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
* Five major workshop areas: clinical care, community initiatives, education and training, leadership development, and research.
* We are committed to diversity among Summit organizers and participants reflective of the compelling diversity of our community. Our core group, working committees, and publicity & outreach strategies include substantial representation based on: race, ethnicity, class, age, ability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and geographic location.
* Three phases : a strong collaborative planning process; the Summit itself; and post-Summit publications including a synopsis as well as appropriate position/policy papers from the proceedings.
Objectives
In addition to the education and training of all involved, outcomes include:
* Refocusing on issues of health resiliency and well-being for healthcare providers, educators, and community organizers
* Reinvigorating a national Lesbian Health Movement, utilizing health as a vehicle for social change, through the design and development of the Summit itself
* Creating national publications and implementation guides, including policy papers and the pertinent proceedings of the Summit as an update to the 1999 IOM Report and 2000 Implementation Guide
Who We Are
The Coordinating Collective for the National Lesbian Health Summit currently has representation from many diverse groups and individuals nationally, including: 1) Callen-Lorde, NY – Anita Radix; 2) Center for Minority Health, University of Pittsburgh – Karen Reddick; 3) Fenway Community Health, Boston – Julie Ebin, Marta Perrupato; 4) LA Gay & Lesbian Center, Los Angeles – Susan Cohen, Precious Stallworth; 5) LGBTI Resources @ University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) – Shane Snowdon; 6) Lesbian Community Cancer Project, Chicago – Cat Jeffcoat; 7) Lesbian Health & Research Center @ UCSF – María Cora, Diane Sabin; 
Mautner Project, Washington, DC – Rachelle Dixon, D Magrini, and Sara Jaye Sanford; 9) Mazzoni Health Center, Philadelphia – Nurit Shein; 10) National Association of Lesbian & Gay Addiction Professionals, Washington, DC – Cheryl Reese; 11) National Coalition for LGBT Health, Washington, DC – Rebecca Fox
This conference follows a proud tradition of activism and a large body of work regarding lesbian health, including the 2001 National Lesbian Health Summit sponsored by GLMA, LHRC, Lyon-Martin Women’s Health Services; the 2002 National Lesbian Health Conference hosted by the Mautner Project; and the 2004 Third National Lesbian Health Conference, hosted in Chicago and sponsored by the University of Illinois and their National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.
In addition, this Summit also grows out of the robust conference system that has built and sustained our movement, including Creating Change and the Gay Men’s/LGBTI Health Summits. Individual, autonomous national Summits are currently being organized for the {L}, {G}, {B}, {T} communities and will be presented over the next 18 months. These activities are connected by a national LGBTI Health Summit coordinating committee, where information and best practices are shared and discussed.
Join with us as we continue to build an inclusive, intersectional Lesbian Health Movement!
