For Lesbians, Outreach on Cancer

[kweerwolf]

“New York, first in so many ways, has not been first in this area,” observed Liz Margolies, coordinator of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center’s recently instituted program, the Lesbian Cancer Initiative.

As the only program in New York City geared specifically toward lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LBT) women struggling with the physical and emotional effects of cancer, the Lesbian Cancer Initiative targets a grossly underserved population that other cities, such as Atlanta and Chicago, have already been serving for more than a decade.

Although the Community Center has offered some programming, paid for out of its general fund, for LBT women with cancer over the past two years, a grant from the Greater New York affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was awarded in April of this year, allowing the Center to hire Margolies, a licensed clinical social worker, on a part-time basis. This makes Margolies the first and only paid staff member currently working with LBT cancer survivors in New York City in this capacity.

“The Lesbian Cancer Initiative is the only that is looking at LBT women specifically,” Margolies asserted. Although many institutions in New York City offer comprehensive support services for cancer patients and survivors, there are no other programs focused explicitly on the unique experiences and needs of the LBT population.

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_433/forlesbiansoutreach.html