THE SACRAMENTO AREA LESBIAN HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE IS FUNDED BY...

“The main concern for lesbians is lack of cancer screening and treatment. Lesbians and women who partner with women may delay care because of insufficient finances, lack of insurance, past negative experiences in the health care setting, or failure to see themselves at risk for breast cancer. This can cause a delay in diagnosis and treatment, which in turn can lower the chances of survival. Lesbians and women who partner with women are encouraged to seek a lesbian-sensitive provider.”
—The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Sacramento Area Lesbian Health Resource Guide, a project of the Lesbian Task Force of the Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts (formerly the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program) Gold Country Regional Partnership and the Health Education Council.

The purpose of this resource guide is to reach out to women who partner with women in the greater Sacramento area regarding cancer early detection and healthy lifestyles. In 2000, the Lesbian Task Force of the Cancer Detection Programs (CDP) Gold Country Regional Partnership determined that this guide would be the best way to disseminate health information to the largest number of women in the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Although CDP’s primary focus is cancer screening and early detection, we realized that information about all aspects of women’s health was needed.

Little research about lesbian health has been conducted, but it appears we may be at greater risk for breast cancer, and we don’t seek regular medical care as often as straight women. Many of us avoid regular preventive health care because of past homophobic experiences, or because we are tired of the heterosexist questions at the doctor’s office that force us to come out whether we want to or not. Even if we feel comfortable coming out, we may wonder whether our doctor will be able to address our needs.

The CDP Lesbian Task Force hopes this guide will encourage you to seek regular health care, especially if you have avoided it in the past due to negative experiences or concerns about how a provider will treat you.

The listed providers and organizations were referred to us by their patients and clients who are women who partner with women, as well as by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and supportive straight colleagues who felt these providers and businesses would be appropriate to include. Everyone in the guide agreed to be listed, thus reinforcing their support of the lesbian community. Identifying oneself as “lesbian-friendly” is a bold statement in our homophobic culture. And although many of the health providers listed are heterosexual, they are all brave enough to “come out” as supportive and to encourage lesbian patients to see them.

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• ABUSE & VIOLENCE PREVENTION
• ADDICTION & RECOVERY
• ADVOCACY & CIVIL RIGHTS
• AIDS/HIV SERVICES
• ALTERNATIVE/
  COMPLEMENTARY
  MEDICINE
• BEREAVEMENT
• CANCER ORGANIZATIONS
• CHIROPRACTIC
• COMMUNITY CENTERS
• COUNSELING SERVICES & THERAPISTS
• DENTAL CARE
• EXERCISE & FITNESS
• FAMILY PLANNING,
  ADOPTION & PREGNANCY
• FINANCIAL PLANNING
• GAY & LESBIAN BUSINESSES
• HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS & CLINICS
• HEALTH EDUCATION
• HEALTH RIGHTS
• HOMELESS SERVICES
• INSURANCE SERVICES
• LEGAL ASSISTANCE
• MASSAGE THERAPY
• NATIONAL & OUT-OF-AREA ORGANIZATIONS
• NATURAL FOODS
• OPTOMETRY
• PARENTING
• PET HEALTH
• REAL ESTATE
• SAFER SEX
• SOCIAL GROUPS, SPORTS & RECREATION
• SPIRITUAL HEALTH
• SUPPORT GROUPS
• TRANSGENDER RESOURCES
• TRAVEL & RETREATS