Health & health care for lesbian, bisexual and same sex attracted women |
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Lesbian, bisexual
and SSA womens' health |
Research |
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Lesbian and bisexual women’s
health research is a rapidly growing area. Small community-based
research projects involving these women have been underway since
the 1980s. Increasingly, over the last decade, larger population-based
research has been conducted.
Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Health, Victoria
The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Health (MACGLH) was established in Victoria in 2000. This committee was the first of its kind in Australia. It provides advice to the Minister for Health and the Department of Human Services (DHS) on matters relating to the health and wellbeing of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) Victorians. The committee consists of consumers, health care providers, educators, researchers, advocates and others with expertise in LGBTI issues. Terms of referenceThe terms of reference are to:
The terms of reference include the health concerns of bisexual,
trans and intersex Victorians insofar as they overlap with those
of gay men and lesbians. One of the initial projects was to develop a series of papers on the health issues facing LGBTI Victorian. This involved community consultations and a search of relevant literature. The findings are summarised in the following publication: What’s the difference? The next step was to create an action plan to present to the Victorian government for consideration. This has been published: Health and Sexual Diversity. Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
The MACGLH Action plan resulted in the funding of Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, a health unit dedicated to the health of LGBTI Victorians. The unit was established in 2004. One of the aims of this unit was to establish standards of care for LGBT people and to assist in developing training modules for health care providers. This work is underway during 2005-2006. The initial phase has been to produce a tool kit for health care providers. This consists of waiting room posters and pamphlets on working to reduce barriers to health care. There is also a sexual diversity health services audit tool, which can help health services providers assess how they are doing in terms of care for LGBT people and perhaps highlight areas for improvement. Contact: Anne Mitchell, Director GLHV Australian Longitudinal Women’s Health Study and non-heterosexual women
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/wha/ The Australian Longitudinal Women’s Health Study (ALWHS)
is an important 20-year study involving three groups of Australian
women. There are almost 10,000 women in each of the three age-groups
being studied, younger, mid-aged, and older women. All women complete
a survey every 3 years. A research team has formed to analyse the non-heterosexual women in this study. This team includes Dr Ruth McNair (The Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne); Prof Marion Pitts, Dr Lynne Hillier, Philomena Horsley, Anne Mitchell (Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne); and Assoc Prof Anne Kavanagh (The Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, University of Melbourne).
The team is able to compare health outcomes according to sexual
orientation for the younger and mid-age groups because a question
has been included in their surveys since 2000. The question is not
included in the older women’s surveys. The question asks women
“Which of these most closely describes your sexual orientation”
with possible answers being: The research team is using this question to define women’s
sexual identity (although acknowledging that some women may have
answered it according to their sexual attraction or behaviour).
The Women’s Health Australia Study provides a unique opportunity
to understand the associations between sexual orientation and health
for Australian women. There has been no similar population-based
research in Australia which has collected comprehensive data on
sexual orientation. To date the following papers have been published: Hillier L, De Visser R, Kavanagh A, McNair RP. The association
between sexual orientation and licit and illicit drug use in young
Australian women. Medical J of Australia 2003; 179: 326-327. Hillier L, De Visser R, Kavanagh A, McNair R. The drug use patterns
of heterosexual and non-heterosexual young women: data from the
Women’s Health Australia Study. In Riggs, D.W. & Walker,
G.A. (Eds.) Out in the Antipodes: Australian and New Zealand Perspectives
on Gay and Lesbian Issues in Psychology. Perth: Brightfire Press,
2004. Mental health McNair R, Kavanagh A, Agius P, Tong B. The mental health status
of young adult and mid-life non-heterosexual Australian women. Aust
NZ J Public Health 2005; 29: 265-71 Same Sex Attracted Youth in Australia
This research has had a major impact on the lives of SSA young people through raising awareness of their health and social needs. Amongst other outcomes it has assisted in supporting the need for anti-homophobia programs in schools, and for specific SSAY support groups to be formed and sustained. Reports of the two surveys can be found at: Hillier L, Dempsey D, Harrison, L, Beale L, Matthews L and Rosenthal
D. Writing themselves in: A national report on the sexuality, health
and well-being of same-sex attracted young people. Australian Research
Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 1998.
Sex in Australia studyThe Australian Study of Health and Relationships was conducted by researchers at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University; and the National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales. Telephone interviews were conducted with 19,307 Australians (9,134 women) aged 16 to 59 years during 2001 and 2002. They answered a series of questions about their sexual experience, identity and attraction, relationships, attitudes, safe sex, STIs and sexual coercion. Summary of results Research papers relevant to same sex attracted women Grulich A, de Visser R, Smith A, Rissel C, Richters J. Sex in Australia: Homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003; 27: 155-63. Grulich A, de Visser R, Smith A, Rissel C, Richters J. Sex in Australia:
Sexually transmissible infection and blood-borne virus history in
a representative sample of adults. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003;
27: 234-41. Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby community research
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) aims to achieve equality and social justice for lesbians and gay men. One of the methods of achieving these aims is to undertake and support research with the lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Victorians. The VGLRL conducts periodic surveys about various aspects of discrimination experienced by these communities. Reports of three of these surveys are included below. Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. Enough is Enough. A report
on Discrimination and Abuse experienced by lesbians, gay men, bisexuals
and transgender people in Victoria, June 2000. Available from URL: Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. Everyday experiments. Report
of a survey into same-sex domestic partnerships in Victoria, 2001.
Available from URL: McNair, R. P., & Thomacos, N. (2005). Not yet equal. Report
of the VGLRL same sex relationships survey 2005. Melbourne: Victorian
Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. At www.vglrl.org.au Lesbian parenting research in Australia
Artwork by the child of a lesbian parent at Rainbow Families 2 Kids Club Feb 2005. There have been several research projects involving lesbian parented families in Victoria over the past few years. There are also projects underway in other states. Completed projects will be reported here. Families, health and reproduction: an exploratory study of lesbian parents This study was conducted in 2001 and 2002 in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. The research team was Ruth McNair, Deborah Dempsey (Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne), Sarah Wise (Australian Institute of Family Studies) and Amaryll Perlesz (The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University). It was funded by Department of Human Services Victoria and the Lesbian Health Fund, USA. A total of 267 lesbian and bisexual women who were currently parenting
or intending to parent within 2 years completed the questionnaire.
Two thirds of respondents were parents and one third were prospective
parents. Issues explored included: Papers published McNair RP, Dempsey D, Wise S, Perlesz A. Lesbian parenting: issues,
strengths and challenges. Family Matters No. 63, 2002, pp 40-49. McNair RP and Dempsey D. Family formation and women’s roles.
AIFS Conference Feb 2003. http://www.aifs.org.au/institute/afrc8/mcnair.pdf Dempsey D. Paternity and lesbian parented families. Australian
Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, Feb 2003. Conference
proceedings at http://www.aifs.org.au/institute/afrc8/dempsey.pdf Perlesz A and McNair R. Challenges and Strengths for lesbian parented
families. AIFS Conference Feb 2003. http://www.aifs.org.au/institute/afrc8/perlesz.pdf Perlesz A, McNair R. Lesbian parenting: insider’s voices. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy 2004; 25 (2): 129-140.
This was an interview-based study using grounded theory conducted
with 20 lesbian parented families in Victoria during 2002-2004.
This study investigated family diversity and post-modern kinship.
Findings include understandings of family structure including how
family members defined and described their relationships, their
roles and the social supports available to them. The interface between
the private lives of lesbian parented families and mainstream public
institutions was also discussed, particularly health, school and
legal systems. Researchers: Papers published: Perlesz A, Brown R, Lindsay J, McNair R, de Vaus D, Pitts M. Family in transition: Parents, children and grandparents in lesbian families give meaning to ‘doing family’. Journal of Family Therapy, In Press Lindsay J, Perlesz A, Brown R, McNair R, de Vaus D and Pitts M. Stigma or Respect: Lesbian-parented families negotiating the school setting. Sociology, In Press Perlesz A, Brown R, McNair R, Lindsay J, Pitts M, de Vaus D. Lesbian family disclosure: authenticity and safety within private and public domains. Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review, In Press Other Australian research papers on lesbian parented families Legitimising Lesbian and Gay Parenting Symposium Proceedings 2007 [pdf] Ray V and Gregory R. School experiences of the children of lesbian and gay parents. Family Matters 2001; 59: 28-34. Millbank, J. Meet the Parents: A Review of the Research on Lesbian
and Gay Families. Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW), 2002. Available
from: URL: http://www.glrl.org.au/pdf/major_reports/meet_the_parents.pdf Millbank J. And then the bride changed nappies. Gay and Lesbian
Rights Lobby (NSW), April 2003. Available from URL: Millbank, J. From here to maternity: A review of the research on lesbian and gay families. Australian Journal of Social Issues 2003; 38(4), 541-600. Dempsey, D. Donor, father or parent? Conceiving paternity in the Australian Family Court. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family 2004; 18(1), 76-102. McNair R. Outcomes for children born of assisted reproductive technology
in a diverse range of families. Occasional paper commissioned by
the Victorian Law Reform Commission, August 2004. ISBN 0 9751497
6 8. Available at: www.lawreform.vic.gov.au
Patterson CJ 1995. A resource for Psychologists on Gay and Lesbian Parenting. The American Psychological Association. Available via www.apa.org/pi/parent.html Perrin EC. American Academy of Pediatrics. Technical Report: co-parent or second-parent adoption by same-sex parents. Pediatrics 2002; 109 (2): 341-344. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. Policy Statement: Co-parent or second-parent adoption by same-sex parents. Pediatrics 2002; 109(2): 339-340. Anderssen, N., Amilie, C., & Ytteroy, E. A. Outcomes for children
with lesbian or gay parents. A review of studies from 1978-2000.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 2002; 43(4), 335-351. Hunfeld, J. A., Fauser, B. C., D, d. B. I., & Passchier, J.
P. Child development and quality of parenting in lesbian families:
no psychological indications for a-priori withholding of infertility
treatment. A systematic review. Human Reproduction Update 2002;
8(6), 579-590. Stacey, J., & Biblarz, T. J. (How) does the sexual orientation
of parents matter? American Sociological Review 2001; 66, 159-183. Ageing and sexual orientation research in AustraliaDr Jo Harrison has conducted research in Australia regarding the experiences of lesbian and gay people of the aged care system. She also compared activism in this area in Australia and the USA. Her work has exposed an almost complete neglect of the specific needs of these health care consumers within the aged care system. Dr Harrison's Website: http://members.ozemail.com.au/`jamms Papers Harrison, Jo. It's not my business: gay and lesbian invisibility
in aged care. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 2001; 48,
142-145. Harrison, Jo. What are you really afraid of? Gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and intersex ageing, ageism, and activism. Word is Out
2, March 2002, 1-11. Harrison, Jo. Pink, lavender and grey: gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and intersex ageing in Australian gerontology. Gay and
Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review 2005; 1(1), 11-16. Other Australian research papersLesbian and bisexual women’s health Health care system and health care education McNair RP. Lesbian Sexuality: Do GPs contribute to lesbian invisibility and ill health? Australian Family Physician 2000; 29 (6): 514-516. Brown R. More than lip service- the report of the lesbian health information project. Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria, July 2000. McNair RP. Outing lesbian health in medical education. In Women and Health, special edition on gender and medical education, Haworth Press, 2003; 37 (4): 89-103. McNair RP. Lesbian health inequalities: a cultural minority issue
for health professionals. MJA 2003; 178: 643-645. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_12_160603/mcn10852_fm.html Sexual health and Pap screening Brown A, Hassard J, Fernbach M, Szabo E, Wakefield M. Lesbians experiences of cervical screening. Health Prom J of Australia 2003; 14 (2): 128-132. Richters, J., Song, A., Prestage, G., Clayton, S., & Turner,
R. Health of lesbian, bisexual and queer women in Sydney. The 2004
Sydney Women and Sexual Health survey. (Monograph No. 2). Sydney:
National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of NSW, 2005. McNair R. Risks and prevention of sexually transmissible infections
among women who have sex with women. Sexual Health, 2005; 2 (4):
209-217. Rural women and coming out Edwards, Jane. Invisibility, safety and psycho-social distress
among same-sex attracted women in rural South Australia. Rural Remote
Health 2005; 5(1), 343 (online). Edwards, Jane. Telling stories: women's accounts of identifying as lesbians. Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review 2005; 1(1), 3-10. Bisexual women Heath, Mary. Pronouncing the silent 'B' (in GLBTTIQ). Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review 2005; 1(3), 87-92. Mental health Jorm AF, Korten AE, Rodgers B, Jacomb PA, Christensen H. Sexual orientation and mental health: results from a community survey of young and middle-aged adults. Br J Psychiatry 2002; 180: 423-427. Substance use Murnane A, Smith A, Crompton L, Snow P and Munro G. Beyond Perceptions: A report on alcohol and other drug use among gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer communities in Victoria. The ALSO Foundation, Australian Drug Foundation, Vic Health. Melbourne, 2000. Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology Review Selected international research papersAaron DJ, Markovic, Danielson ME, Hannold JA, Janosky JE, Schmidt NJ. Behavioral risk factors for disease and preventive health practices among lesbians. Am J Public Health 2001; 91: 972-975. Cochran SD, Mays VM, Bowen D, Gage S, Bybee D, Roberts SJ, Goldstein RS, Robison A, Rankow EJ, White J. Cancer-related risk indicators and preventive screening behaviours among lesbians and bisexual women. Am J Public Health 2001; 91(4): 591-7. King M, McKeown E, Warner J, Ramsay A, Johnson K, Cort C, et al. Mental health and quality of life of gay men and lesbians in England and Wales: controlled, cross-sectional study. Br J Psychiatry 2003;183: 552-8. Lesbian Health Research Center, University of California, San Francisco www.lesbianhealthinfo.org Lesbians and Cancer, a bibliography Martin, J. I., & Knox, J. Methodological and ethical issues in research on lesbians and gay men. Social Work Research 2000; 24(1), 51-59. Solarz AL (editor). Committee on lesbian Health Research Priorities,
the Institute of Medicine. Lesbian Health: Current Assessment and
Directions for the Future. Washington, DC: National Academy Press,
1999. |
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