Homosexual Agenda Platforms from 1972 - 2000 [plus other resources]

AFA Online (Agenda provided by www.PlanetOut.com ) ^ | www.PlanetOut.com

[Polycarp]

THE 1972 GAY RIGHTS PLATFORM
(Formulated in Chicago, Illinois.)

FEDERAL:

1. Amend all federal Civil Rights Acts, other legislation and government controls to
prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and public
services. (1972 Federal-1)
2. Issuance by the President of an executive order prohibiting the military from excluding
for reasons of their sexual orientation, persons who of their own volition desire entrance
into the Armed Services; and from issuing less-than-fully-honorable discharges for
homosexuality; and the upgrading to fully honorable all such discharges previously
issued, with retroactive benefits. (1972 Federal-2)
3. Issuance by the President of an executive order prohibiting discrimination in the federal
civil service because of sexual orientation, in hiring and promoting; and prohibiting
discriminations against homosexuals in security clearances. (1972 Federal-3)
4. Elimination of tax inequities victimizing single persons and same-sex couples. (1972
Federal-4)
5. Elimination of bars to the entry, immigration and naturalization of homosexual aliens.
(1972 Federal-5)
6. Federal encouragement and support for sex education courses, prepared and taught by
Gay women and men, presenting homosexuality as a valid, healthy preference and
lifestyle as a viable alternative to heterosexuality. (1972 Federal-6)
7. Appropriate executive orders, regulations and legislation banning the compiling,
maintenance and dissemination of information on an individual's sexual preferences,
behavior, and social and political activities for dossiers and data banks. (1972 Federal-7)
8. Federal funding of aid programs of gay men's and women's organizations designed to
alleviate the problems encountered by Gay women and men which are engendered by an
oppressive sexist society. (1972 Federal-8)
9. Immediate release of all Gay women and men now incarcerated in detention centers,
prisons and mental institutions because of sexual offense charges relating to victimless
crimes or sexual orientation; and that adequate compensation be made for the physical
and mental duress encountered; and that all existing records relating to the incarceration
be immediately expunged. (1972 Federal-9)




STATE:

1. All federal legislation and programs enumerated in Demands 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9 above
should be implemented at the State level where applicable. (1972 State-1)
2. Repeal of all state laws prohibiting private sexual acts involving consenting persons;
equalization for homosexuals and heterosexuals for the enforcement of all laws. (1972
State-2)
3. Repeal all state laws prohibiting solicitation for private voluntary sexual liaisons; and
laws prohibiting prostitution, both male and female. (1972 State-3)
4. Enactment of legislation prohibiting insurance companies and any other state-regulated
enterprises from discriminating because of sexual orientation, in insurance and in
bonding or any other prerequisite to employment or control of one's personal demesne.
(1972 State-4)
5. Enactment of legislation so that child custody, adoption, visitation rights, foster
parenting, and the like shall not be denied because of sexual orientation or marital status.
(1972 State-5)
6. Repeal of all state laws prohibiting transvestism and cross-dressing. (1972 State-6)
7. Repeal of all laws governing the age of sexual consent. (1972 State-7)
8. Repeal of all legislative provisions that restrict the sex or number of persons entering into
a marriage unit; and the extension of legal benefits to all persons who cohabit regardless
of sex or numbers. (1972 State-8)

THE 1987 MARCH ON WASHINGTON

Explanation: The demands of the marchers come from brochures and pamphlets printed either by the national march office or its local committees. Actual demands are in bold print; underneath are quotes taken from an eight-page official statement, which elaborates on the demands.

1. The legal recognition of lesbian and gay relationships.

"Changes must be made in the courts and in the legislatures to provide homosexual couples the same privileges and benefits as heterosexuals who commit themselves to similar relationships. Changes must also be made in public opinion so that society recognizes and celebrates the diversity in family relationships."

The changes sought: rights of inheritance, visitation and custody rights, insurance rights, parenting and adoption rights. Also listed under this demand is a call for "social services for lesbian and gay youth [to] be greatly augmented." The March on Washington's steering committee demands that government-funded alternative housing, foster care, counseling, and legal aid be provided for homosexual youth.

In addition, the statement calls for increased "availability of safe sex information and health care services for lesbian and gay youth, sexuality and anti-homophobic curriculum in the schools, access to lesbian and gay publications in public and school libraries, and freedom to participate in related school activities."

2. The repeal of all laws that make sodomy between consenting adults a crime.

"Like Jim Crow laws of the American South which sanctioned and promoted racism, sodomy laws give the government's stamp of approval to individual people's hatred of lesbian and gay people. To single out lesbian and gay people for special prosecutorial attention stigmatizes all who are gay and lesbian whether or not they are ever arrested or charged with sodomy."

3. A Presidential order banning anti-gay discrimination by the Federal Government.

This refers to an Executive Order banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in federal employment, the military, federally-contracted private employment, and all federally-funded programs. "Eliminating employment discrimination based solely on sexual orientation in the government sector would send a signal to the rest of the country that this discrimination is immoral and should be illegal."

4. Passage of the Congressional lesbian and gay civil rights bill.

"The government should provide protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, public accommodations and education just as protection is provided on race, creed, color, sex, or national origin."

"The government should ensure all public education programs include programs designed to combat lesbian/gay prejudice ... Institutions that discriminate against lesbian and gay people should be denied tax exempt status and federal funding."

5. An end to discrimination against people with AIDS, ARC, HIV positive status, or those perceived to have AIDS.

Massive increases in funding for AIDS education, research and patient care. Money for AIDS, not for war. They demand that the Federal government fund "a massive AIDS education and prevention program that is explicit, culturally sensitive, lesbian and gay affirming and sex positive ... The government must provide safe sex education to all youth."

"Compassionate, comprehensive health care services must be available for patients without regard to ability to pay ... There must be a complete federal funding of all health and social services for all people with AIDS/ARC ... The federal government must underwrite and insure all research for a cure and a vaccine. Funding for these programs must come from the military budget, not already existing appropriations in the social services budget."

6. Reproductive freedom, the right to control our own bodies, and an end to sexist oppression.

"All people must have access to birth control ... Those who wish must have the right to artificial insemination by donor. Public and private institutions should support parenting by lesbian or gay couples ... All people must have access to free abortions and contraceptives on demand regardless of age." The march also called for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

7. An end to racism in this country and apartheid in South Africa.

"As members of the lesbian and gay movement, we too are affected by rising racism and sexism which oppresses People of Color and women; thereby the liberation of lesbians and gay is intricately linked to the struggle against racism, sexism and anti-Semitism. We realize that none of us are free until we are all free. We, therefore, call upon all of our sisters and brothers to actively confront racism and sexism on all levels both within our movement, and in the larger society. We demand an end to racist and sexist oppression. We demand an end to all social, economic, judicial and legal oppression of lesbians and gays, and people of every race, gender, class, ethnicity, faith, political ideology, transgenderal orientation and sexual orientation."

PLATFORM OF THE 1993 MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR LESBIAN, GAY, AND BI EQUAL RIGHTS AND LIBERATION

Action Statement Preamble to the Platform

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender movement recognizes that our quest for social justice fundamentally links us to the struggles against racism and sexism, class bias, economic injustice and religious intolerance. We must realize if one of us is oppressed we all are oppressed. The diversity of our movement requires and compels us to stand in opposition to all forms of oppression that diminish the quality of life for all people. We will be vigilant in our determination to rid our movement and our society of all forms of oppression and exploitation, so that all of us can develop to our full human potential without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation/identification, identity, gender and gender expression, ability, age or class. (April 25, 1993)

PLATFORM DEMANDS AND RELATED ITEMS

1. We demand passage of a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender civil rights bill and an end to discrimination by state and federal governments including the military; repeal of all sodomy laws and other laws that criminalize private sexual expression between consenting adults.

Passage of "The Civil Rights Amendment Act of 1991" (HR1430 & S574).

Repeal of Department of Defense directive 1332.14.

Repeal of laws prohibiting sodomy, cross-gender expression (dress codes) or non- coercive sexual behavior between adults.

Amendment of the Code of Federal Regulations to recognize same-sex relationships.

Passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Implementation of, funding for and enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991.

Passage and implementation of graduated age-of-consent laws.

2. We demand massive increase in funding for AIDS education, research, and patient care; universal access to health care including alternative therapies; and an end to sexism in medical research and health care.

The provision of responsive, appropriate health care for people with disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing people.

Revision of the Centers for Disease Control definition of AIDS to include infections particular to women.

Implementation of the recommendation of the National AIDS Commission immediately.

A massive increase in funding for AIDS education, research and care -- money for AIDS, not for war. This money should come from the defense budget, not existing social services.

An increase in funding and research to provide an independent study of HIV infection in women, People of Color, Bisexuals, Heterosexuals, children, and women to women transmission.

Access to anonymous testing for HIV.

No mandatory HIV testing.

A cure for AIDS.

The development and legalization of a national needle exchange program.

Free substance abuse treatment on demand.

The re-definition of sexual re-assignment surgeries as medical, not cosmetic, treatment.

The provision of appropriate medical treatment for all transgendered people in prisons and hospitals.

An increase in funding and research for chronic illness, including breast ovarian, and other cancers particular to women.

The right of all people with chronic illness, including HIV/AIDS, to choices in medical treatment as well as the right to end such treatment.

3. We demand legislation to prevent discrimination against Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered people in the areas of family diversity, custody, adoption and foster care and that the definition of family includes the full diversity of all family structures.

The recognition and legal protection of the whole range of family structures.

An end to abuse and exploitation of and discrimination against youth.

An end to abuse and exploitation of and discrimination against older/old people.

Full implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Health and Human Services Task Force on Youth Suicide.

Recognition of domestic partnerships.

Legalization of same-sex marriages.

4. We demand full and equal inclusion of Lesbians, gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered people in the educational system, and inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender studies in multicultural curricula.

Culturally inclusive Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Studies program; and information on abortion, AIDS/HIV, childcare and sexuality at all levels of education.

Establishment of campus offices and programs to address Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students' special needs.

The ban of all discriminatory ROTC programs and recruiters from learning institutions.

An end to discrimination at all levels of education.

5. We demand the right to reproductive freedom and choice, to control our own bodies, and an end to sexist discrimination.

The right to control our bodies.

Unrestricted, safe and affordable alternative insemination.

An end to sterilization abuse.

That access to safe and affordable abortion and contraception be available to all people on demand, without restriction and regardless of age.

That access to unbiased and complete information about the full range of reproductive options be available to all people, regardless of age.

6. We demand an end to racial and ethnic discrimination in all forms.

Support for non-racist policies and affirmative action.

An end to institutionalized racism.

Equal economic opportunity and an end to poverty.

Full reproductive rights, improvement of pre-natal services, availability of alternative insemination for Lesbians and Bisexual women of color.

Repeal of all 'English Only' laws and restore and enforce bilingual education.

Repeal all discriminatory immigration laws based on race and HIV status.

A commitment to ending racism, including internalized racism, sexism and all forms of religious and ethnic oppression in our communities and in this country.

An end to the genocide of all the indigenous peoples and their cultures.

Restoration of the self-determination of all indigenous people of the world.

7. We demand an end to discrimination and violent oppression based on actual or perceived sexual orientation/identification, race, religion, identity, sex and gender expression, disability, age, class, AIDS/HIV infection.

An end to anti-Semitism.

An end to sexist oppression.

An end to discrimination against people with disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing people.

An end to discrimination based on sexual orientation in all programs of the Boy Scouts of America.

An end to economic injustice in this country and internationally.

An end to discrimination against prisoners with HIV/AIDS.

An end to discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, and those perceived as having HIV/AIDS.

An end to consideration of gender dysphoria as a psychiatric disorder.

An end to hate crimes including police brutality, rape and bashing.

An end to censorship.

The Millennium March on Washington for Equality Agenda

April 30, 2000

One of the primary objectives of the Millennium March is to rally the GLBT community around a common political agenda. However, the process by which that agenda is established has been the subject of much controversy, and there is no single set of priorities about which all March participants agree. Here is a brief update on some of the issues most frequently proposed to be part of the March agenda:

Hate Crimes Legislation

Hate crimes laws provide harsher sentences for violent crimes motivated by bias based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or physical disability. In 22 states and Washington, D.C., sexual orientation is also a protected category. But the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act is stalled in Congress -- partly because it includes protection for gay men and lesbians.

Right to Marry

It is not possible for gay or lesbian couples to get married legally anywhere in the United States. But there has been significant progress toward meaningful civil unions in recent months. Vermont's House and Senate passed a law that would extend many of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples. And the rabbis of Reform Judaism voted in March to recognize and conduct same-sex unions in their synagogues. However, the U.S. Congress and 31 states have passed "Defense of Marriage" acts that attempt to permanently restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples.

Employment Non-Discrimination

Although 11 states and many cities outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation, the vast majority of gay men and lesbians can be fired because of their sexuality. The federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act was voted down by the Senate in 1996 by a narrow 50-49 margin and never made it to the floor of the House. House Minority leader Dick Gephardt, D-MO, has promised to introduce it if Democrats retake control of the House, and Al Gore has pledged his support. George W. Bush opposes ENDA as "special treatment."

Military Service

Until the 1993 passage of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," gay men and lesbians were officially banned from the U.S. Armed Forces. Now they are only excluded if they are open about their sexuality. Most reports have concluded that DADT has worsened harassment for gay and lesbian servicemembers. Al Gore, both Clintons, and many prominent Democrats now believe that DADT has failed and that gay men and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly and equally.

Lesbian Health Issues

Historically, the practice of medicine has been based on an understanding of male anatomy. Women's health was an early, pressing concern of the feminist movement, and in the past decade, lesbians have organized to focus attention on their own specific health needs. Lesbians are less likely to seek health care (especially gynecological exams) than other women, and they are at higher risk for breast, cervical and ovarian cancers because they are less likely to have children by age 30. A 1999 study by the National Academy of Science concluded that extensive research into lesbian health is still desperately needed.

AIDS / HIV

HIV has not been receiving as much attention from the gay and lesbian community as it once did. Recently introduced drugs have greatly extended the life expectancies of HIV-positive people -- at least those who can afford the medications. Funding for AIDS research continues to be approved each year by Congress, but many believe the money is insufficient. Outside the gay and lesbian community, the biggest area of concern is Africa, where HIV prevention and treatment are still woefully inadequate.

LGBT People of Color

Misunderstood by both those who share their skin color and those who share their sexual preference, LGBT people of color -- while always judged first and foremost by race -- often feel caught between two worlds. The controversy over lack of diversity surrounding this March on Washington proved that this double exclusion has not gone away.

Adoption Rights

In every state except Florida, it is legal for gay men or lesbians to adopt children. Until 1990, however, only one parent was typically recognized by the government. Now about half of the states allow "second parent adoptions" -- the granting of joint parental responsibility to two unmarried people. There is no federal legislation on the issue, though some organizations are challenging gay adoption bans as unconstitutional.

LGBT Aging Issues

Gay culture has always privileged youth, but life goes on well past the hedonistic twenties and thirties. As the population in general is living longer, so are we. Senior gays and lesbians face unique challenges, both legal -- such as rights of succession -- and social, such as meeting people and growing older without the support of children.

LGBT Youth Issues

Gay and lesbian adolescents and teens have always been one of the most vulnerable groups to anti-gay prejudice. They are at a higher risk for suicide and are believed to have higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse. However, an increasing number of gay teens are coming out early in life and are fighting to make their schools a safe place for their peers. Of particular note has been the increasing number of gay-straight alliances formed in high schools -- a move that has received praise from many teachers' organizations, but that has drawn criticism from "pro-family" groups. At least one school district has banned extracurricular student groups altogether, since barring gay-straight alliances alone would be considered discriminatory.

Overturning Anti-GLBT Laws

The passage of California's anti-same-sex marriage Knight Initiative has galvanized the gay community to work against homophobic legislation across the country. The biggest priorities currently are similar "Defense of Marriage" laws in 31 states, as well as Florida and Utah's laws that create obstacles for gay families.

Right to Privacy/Choice

Many gay men and lesbians see a connection between reproductive freedom and gay rights. Both are based on the principle that the government should not -- and indeed cannot, because of the constitutional right to privacy -- pass laws that interfere in personal sexual and reproductive choices.

Global GLBT Issues

The United States falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum with respect to gay rights. Many countries - most notably, western European nations and Australia -- are considered more progressive socially and politically on gay issues. Gay and lesbian activists are working on strengthening connections among countries to move the agenda along on a global scale.

(Agenda provided by www.PlanetOut.com )

[savagesusie]

Yes, you can have a stepparent but you still only have one biological mommy.

You have to agree that the title, "Heather...." is one biological lie.

I also do not want to explain to my 5 year old son that someone intentionally CHOSE to cheat a child out of their relationship with her biological father....how sad and evil but MOSTLY selfish. And to think of poor Heather either being a nympho to attract men from the lack of one in her life or to the other extreme of being a man-hating Dyke is not the type of person I would like to produce for this society.

[Jorge]

I wonder if Jorge and the rest know it is against the law in Denmark and Canada to criticize homosexuality.

"Oh that would never happen here"

Yes...I know about what has happened in places like Denmark and Canada and I have warned about it happening here.
I think we have to fight this sort of PC insanity.

[Qwerty]

"You have to agree that the title, "Heather...." is one biological lie."

What title would you prefer to denote two women living as a couple and raising a child/children?

"I also do not want to explain to my 5 year old son that someone intentionally CHOSE to cheat a child out of their relationship with her biological father"

Then don't, and if you don't want your kids having a "public" education, I suggest homeschooling or sending them to a private school.

"And to think of poor Heather either being a nympho to attract men from the lack of one in her life or to the other extreme of being a man-hating Dyke is not the type of person I would like to produce for this society. "

I'm not a man hater or a nympho, so when I have children what will you call me?

By the way... the only way you can be sure not to produce a lesbian is by not having a daughter, as my heterosexual republican parents could tell you.

[Jorge]

I have posted very few threads on the homosexual issue since I started here.

You've initiated and posted no less than than 9 threads on homosexuality in the last 3-4 weeks.

You denied my claim that you've been posting these homosexual threads week after week and challenged me to back it up.
So I provided the proof...along with the titles of the threads and the dates you started them.

I don't know your entire history is on FR...I was just commenting on your recent history.

Sorry if I embarrassed you.

[Polycarp]

Embarass me? Hell no. Frankly, I was hoping you'd post them as HTML links, but I can't win them all.

By the way, in our modern calendar, 4/21 to 5/9 does not represent 3-4 weeks. Thanks for playing, marionette.

[Jorge]

"...all those who don't share their same paranoid obsessions as homosexuals."

So you're finally owning up to the fact that homosexuals are beset with paranoid obsessions? Good for you, these kind of admissions are the first step towards recovery.

How clever of you to chop my sentence in half to create an impression that had nothing to do with my original statement.
Very entertaining. You must be really bored.

[savagesusie]

"...you should be posting that women should be lesbian, since it has a lower incidence of STD's than heterosexuality. Right?"

Wrong. Monogomous relationships have the lowest instances of STD's so I am advocating monogamy. I personally do not care what other people do or don't do in the privacy of their home....I just don't want my children to be exposed to "IDEAS" that I find personally and religiously repugnant. I want them to enjoy their innocence the way I did--I had a wonderful childhood with 5 brothers and sisters and a decent mother AND father. I am sorry if you did not have the same experience in your youth.

[Jorge]

Embarass me? Hell no.

Good. It doesn't pay to be too thin skinned on FR.

Frankly, I was hoping you'd post them as HTML links, but I can't win them all.

Sorry, but my objective was to prove my point...not to resurrect your favorite dead threads.

By the way, in our modern calendar, 4/21 to 5/9 does not represent 3-4 weeks.

Your right..it's 3 days shy of 3 weeks. Which means you managed to create 9 homosexual threads in 19 days..which looks even more frantic.

[Qwerty]

"Wrong. Monogomous relationships have the lowest instances of STD's so I am advocating monogamy. "

Well anyone can practice monogamy. Even homosexuals.

"I just don't want my children to be exposed to "IDEAS" that I find personally and religiously repugnant. "

That's fair enough.

"I had a wonderful childhood with 5 brothers and sisters and a decent mother AND father. I am sorry if you did not have the same experience in your youth. "

I also came from a two parent household.. my parents are still together... and I have 3 brothers. So there really isn't much of a difference.

[Polycarp]

Thanks. I posted another one tonight. Want me to ping you to it?

[savagesusie]

"By the way... the only way you can be sure not to produce a lesbian is by not having a daughter, as my heterosexual republican parents could tell you."

I did produce a daughter and she is not a lesbian and I am a Republican to boot! She is very athletic, though, and got a scholarship to college in sports. But then, she was never abused by her father or brothers who love her dearly so she has a healthy respect and love for men.

YOU made a good point! Homosexuality is NOT inherited...it is taught or created by social conditions. That is why I do not want it taught in the schools especially the behaviours. Kids are curious and will try out whatever they are told. If I had wanted I could have easily made all my four sons into homosexuals. (Pavlov, you know.)

[Polycarp]

I suppose in the interest of fairness, you should be posting that women should be lesbian, since it has a lower incidence of STD's than heterosexuality. Right?

Lesbians show similar patterns of high venereal disease incidence relative to the general population. They are 19 times more likely to have had syphilis, twice as likely to have had genital warts, four times as likely to have had scabies, seven times more likely to have had infection from vaginal contact, 29 times more likely to have had oral infection from vaginal contact and 12 times more likely to have had an oral infection from penile contact ("Medical Aspects of Homosexuality," Institute for the Scientific Investigation of Sexuality, 1985, Jaffe and Keewhan, et al.).

You're right, qwerty, disingenuous implies mild to moderate dishonesty. You are not disingenuous.

You simply lie through your lesbian teeth.

[Qwerty]

"I did produce a daughter and she is not a lesbian and I am a Republican to boot!"

Yes.. but you couldn't be SURE she wouldn't be. Do you think the Cheney's set out to have a lesbian daughter? We tend to pop up everywhere.

"But then, she was never abused by her father or brothers who love her dearly so she has a healthy respect and love for men."

I wasn't either. Your theories about what cause homosexuality are pretty easily disproven.

"YOU made a good point! Homosexuality is NOT inherited...it is taught or created by social conditions."

No one has ever shown that to be true.

" If I had wanted I could have easily made all my four sons into homosexuals."

Whoa... that's ALL wrong.

[Jorge]

Thanks. I posted another one tonight. Want me to ping you to it?

I already responded to you in another thread..where I agreed with you on Blair's decision regarding hiring of gays by Religious organizations.

Unfortunately you never seem to respond when I agree with you on these threads.
Guess that would make it difficult for you to continue labeling me as a pro-gay perversion apologist..huh?

[Qwerty]

"You simply lie through your lesbian teeth."

Anything to work the word "lesbian" into a sentence, eh?

[Jorge]

YOU ARE WRONG! This is the lie that is taught in the schools! The homosexual act is NOT as safe--ask a proctologist.

Actually in some cases you are wrong. Lesbians have a lower rate of contracting AIDS and other STDs than heterosexual women.

[Polycarp]

GLBT Homepage
»Definitions	»Gay & Bisexual Men	»GLBT Youth
»Health Quiz	»Lesbian & Bisexual Women	»Healthcare Providers
»Health Studies	»Transgendered People	»Services & Resources

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Can women give other women STDs? Yes.

There is a misconception among health care providers and women themselves that lesbian and bisexual women have little or no risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). This myth is fueled by the lack of reliable studies of STD transmission in these communities.

In fact, the risk of STD transmission between women varies significantly depending on the STD. Herpes, HPV (genital wart virus), and bacterial vaginosis are transmitted fairly easily between women during sex. HIV, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are much less likely to be transmitted--the risk is low but it is still possible.

The majority of lesbian and bisexual women have (or have had) sex with men, and all STDs are easily transmitted from men to women during intercourse. Often STD do not have symptoms, so it is possible for a woman to have become infected years ago and to still harbor the infection.

It is important that you share your particular sexual history with a GLBT-friendly health care provider who can advise you of the appropriate STD screening tests for you. All women, including lesbian and bisexual women, need to receive regular Pap tests.

HIV

Often people worry more about HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) than about any other STD. HIV is transmitted when infected sexual fluids or blood enter another person's bloodstream.

There are little research specifically concerning woman-to-woman transmission of HIV. It has been documented in several studies that women who have had sex only with other women, and have not used intravenous drugs, are at low risk for HIV. Although there are case reports of woman-to-woman transmission through oral sex or shared sex toys, this is an uncommon transmission route. The risk of exposure to HIV in menstrual blood is not known, but could provide another means of transmission between women.

Women who have had sexual contact with men, which includes the majority of women who identify as lesbian, have a higher risk for HIV. Women who have had unprotected sex with gay or bisexual men, or men who have injected drugs, are at an especially high risk.

Herpes and HPV

Genital herpes and the human papillomavirus (HPV) are more likely to be transmitted between women than HIV is because they can be transmitted by skin-to-skin, genital-to-genital, or mouth-to-genital contact.

In addition, because these viruses are not curable and stay in the body, a woman could acquire herpes or HPV from a male partner and later pass it on to a female partner. Case studies and recent research support this possibility. As HPV can lead to cervical cancer, lesbians and bisexual women need Pap tests on a regular basis, just as heterosexual women do.

Bacterial STD

While chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are less likely to be transmitted between women, it does happen rarely. One study found that four of 241 lesbians had one of these infections. An April 2000 article in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports of two lesbians diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is usually caused by untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea. These studies show that lesbians are at a low, but not nonexistant risk for bacterial STDs, reinforcing the need for providers to obtain full and complete sexual histories.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Researchers are especially interested in bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women who have sex with women both because it occurs frequently among lesbians and because the cause and transmission of BV is not clearly understood. In one study over half of the lesbians had BV and BV was diagnosed even in the absence of sexual activity with a man in the previous year. Additionally, there was a high likelihood that if one partner in a monogamous couple had BV her partner would as well.

It is important for both providers and lesbian and bisexual women to remember that orientation and identity are not enough to assess risk of STDs. A woman's history--particularly her sexual activity with men--and her sexual behaviors are more reliable and comprehensive indicators of risk.

Cervical Cancer

Click here to visit the GLBT Cervical Cancer webpage.

RESOURCES

• Lesbian STD website
  www.lesbianstd.com
  Provides information and resources regarding STDs in women who have sex with women and research advancing the knowledge of lesbian health. The site is created by researchers at the University of Washington, and includes an overview of STDs and their transmission between women, a question & answer forum where you get your questions answered, a listing of lesbian health research studies currently enrolling and research data from our current studies.
  
  
• Public Health - Seattle & King County HIV/STD Program
  www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std/index.htm
  Learn more about STDs in general.

[Jorge]

You simply lie through your lesbian teeth.

Is this necessary?
Disagreeing with people is one thing...but you seem to be consumed with bitterness towards those who challenge you on anything.
Why are you so hateful?

[Polycarp]

Just don't want anyone to think you are an objective posted with no dog in this fight.

Feel free to hurl at me the insult, "heterosexual!"

[Qwerty]

What a great link.. talking about how lesbians are likely to get STD's from men and then pass it on to women.

I didn't say impossible.. I said lower. And this link is agreeing with what I said. Thanks.