"

Notes on reading tables:
The percentage of respondents has been included for each item.5 percent. (before Pridelights)

WHERE: MALE Center
571 Columbus Avenue
(across the street from the Harriet Tubman House)
Boston, MA 02118

WHY: Boston has the greatest concentration in the state of people
living with HIV/AIDS who know their HIV status, 30% of 14,811. Of these 1,767 participants , the
median age was 32 years (range: 18-81 years); 35% were white,
27% Hispanic , 25% black, 7% multiracial/other, and 6% Asian/Pacific
Islander.

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A dash
represents a value of zero. This online sample is not a probability sample.com), Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan ,
through newly acquired WirthlinWorldwide, a Reston, Virginia-based research
and consultancy firm ranked 25th largest in the world, and through an
independent global network of affiliate market research companies.

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, According to a new national
online survey, health care costs (50%) and the lack of adequate health
insurance (43%) are cited as the most common reasons why lesbians have delayed
obtaining health care.
"Barriers to accessing health care, whether they are financial,
institutional or cultural, can be devastating for lesbians with chronic or
life threatening illnesses," said Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the
Mautner Project. 18
cdermody@witeckcombs.
And
Benjamin D.
Director, The MALE Center, a program of AIDS Action Committee

WHAT: Tour of and Community Reception at new Men's Action Life
Empowerment (MALE) Center, a multicultural, intergenerational
community resource center for gay, bisexual , queer, questioning
and same-gender-loving men in Boston, which begins operating on
June 8. The MALE Center team thinks it's worth conversation and
empowering action .

* Nearly all participants (92%) reported previously being tested for
HIV, and 64% reported being tested during the preceding year.
"In June, the CDC reported that the number of people living with HIV/AIDS
in the United States had reached 1 million for the first time ever ," added
AHF's Weinstein.

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When asked to identify what current health issue
deserves the most attention from health care professionals and public policy
makers from among a list of 14 issues, two in five (41%) lesbians said that
health insurance coverage, followed by nutrition/exercise (14%) and obesity
(12%) deserve the most attention.

Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States between January
11 and 16, 2005 among 2,209 adults, of whom 119 self-identified as gay,
lesbian, or bisexual (GLB). (http://www. offices and wholly owned
subsidiaries: London -based HI Europe (http://www.

Press Contacts:

Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316

Colleen Dermody
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887 -0500 ext..

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adults, of whom 119 have self-identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual (GLB). lesbian adults were surveyed. 12%).

- Three quarters of lesbians (74%) who have experienced discrimination at
a doctor's office believe that they were discriminated against because
of their sexual orientation."

Base: All Adults

Total GLB Lesbian Heterosexual
(n=2,209) (n=119) (n=341 ) (n=2,024)
% % % %
I was concerned about the
cost of health care 33 39 50 33
I lacked adequate health
insurance 26 39 43 25
I have had bad experience(s)
with a health care provider(s)
in the past 13 22 27 12
I was afraid or embarrassed
to talk about my health issues 10 18 13 9
I am concerned about the
privacy of my personal life 6 2 13 6
I had doubts about medical
records being kept confidential 5 9 9 5
I do not want a diagnosis of
illness on my permanent record 5 10 6 4
I was concerned I would be
discriminated against 4 15 16 3
Other 6 5 7 6
I have never delayed
obtaining health care 45 37 25 46

TABLE 4
DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS
"Have you ever felt you were discriminated against in any of the following
health care settings? Please select all that apply.S.S. queried gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) self-identified respondents.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and
technology to advance market leadership through U.novatris.com.com

Shameka Lloyd
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887-0500 ext., June 7, 2005, 5-7 p.

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ROCHESTER, N .
These are some of the results of a nationwide online survey of 2,209 U.S.
Overall, three quarters (75%) of lesbians (compared to 54% of
heterosexuals) have delayed obtaining health care for at least one reason. One in five (19%) feels they were
discriminated against because of their physical or mental disability and
five percent said it was because of their gender identity or expression.
nutrition and exercise) 9 13 14 8
Substance /Drug use 4 1 2 4
Elderly care 4 3 3 4
Heart Disease 3 2 * 4
Diabetes 3 2 * 3
Depression /Anxiety/Stress 2 8 2 2
Domestic Violence 1 2 2 1
Tobacco Use 1 * 1 1
Stroke/High Blood Pressure 1 - 2 1
Alcohol Use 1 2 1 1
Other health care priority 3 1 * 3

* Less than 0.. The participation rate among eligible men was 83% (range
by city: 69%-99%).

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- Among lesbians, 16 percent report that they have delayed obtaining
health care because they were concerned they would be discriminated
against.

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- Heterosexuals are more likely than lesbians to believe that they were
discriminated against because of their income level (35% vs.
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one can say with 95
percent certainty that the results for the overall sample of U.
They include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and
question order , and weighting. Men who have sex with men are best-served if
they know how to make and keep themselves and their partners
safe.of the MSM surveyed, 25% were infected with HIV , and 48% of those
infected were unaware of their infection.

* In the five cities , 2,261 men sampled from 258 venues participated
in NHBS. "That number reflects a continued increase in new HIV
infections -- about 40,000 new HIV cases per year and 18,000 AIDS deaths --
for a net gain of 22,000 cases each year.

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25
slloyd@witeckcombs. 6,
August 10, 2005). Of the 217 MSM with unrecognized HIV
infections, 64% were black, 18% Hispanic, 11% white, and 6 %
multiracial/other. Approximately
58% of MSM with unrecognized infections had not been tested during the
preceding year."

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Additional Note: Previous research conducted by Harris Interactive in
conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. We envision a healthcare system that is guided by social
justice and responsive to the needs of all people.S.

WHEN: Tues.

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"

Additional findings from the survey include:
- All adults (35%) think that health insurance coverage deserves the most
attention from health care professionals and public policy makers,
followed by cancer (16%) and obesity and HIV/AIDS (9% each). 20%). ? Please select all that apply. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for
respondents' propensity to be online. Although we
remain interested in the consumer attitudes and characteristics of
transgendered individuals, for accuracy and consistency we distinguish sexual
orientation from gender identity.

A program of AIDS Action Committee (AAC), MALE Center is funded
by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is
one of Boston's most expansive and comprehensive HIV/AIDS
prevention projects.

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"If doctors, nurses
and other medical professionals are truly committed to providing the best care
to all their patients and are sensitive to the unique needs of their lesbian
patients, then this can improve.5 percent

TABLE 2
HEALTH RISKS
"Which one of the following health risks are you most worried about for
yourself?"

Base: All Adults

Total GLB Lesbian Heterosexual
(n=2 ,209) (n=119) (n=341) (n=2,024)
% % % %
Cancer 16 6 11 16
Being overweight 14 11 17 14
Being out of shape/Not
physically fit 12 12 16 12
Getting older 11 6 15 11
Depression/Anxiety/Stress 7 19 9 6
Disability 6 3 5 6
A disease other than cancer 4 1 2 4
Environmental hazards 4 3 4 4
Smoking 4 3 8 4
HIV/AIDS 1 13 - 1
Poor nutrition 1 2 2 1
Violence in my neighborhood 1 * 1 1
Violence in my home * - - *
Other health risk not mentioned 4 6 4 4
I am not worried about any
health risks for myself 16 13 7 16

* Less than 0. Mautner is a tax-exempt
501(c) (3) non-profit organization governed by an all-volunteer Board of
Directors composed of community leaders, healthcare providers, cancer
survivors and caregivers .com), the 15th
largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester,
N .

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Y.e. It is impossible to quantify the errors that
may result from these factors. AHF Says US' HIV Testing System is Broken;
Calls for Routine HIV Testing in Healthcare Settings ,
More Access to HIV Testing Overall

LOS ANGELES, A recent Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) study on HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men
(MSM), found that a staggering 48% of gay and bi-sexual men who were found to
be HIV positive during the study were previously unaware of their HIV
infection, according to a report on the study published in this week's issue
of the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA, Vol. The majority (184 [84%]) of the 217 MSM with
unrecognized HIV infection had previously been tested for HIV; 145
(79%) reported that their most recent test result was negative, 33
(18 %) were unknown, and six (3%) were indeterminate.

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WHO: Rebecca Haag
Executive Director, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc.
Experts estimate that one third of the people living with HIV do
not know their status, adding another 7,000-9,000 HIV positive
people in Massachusetts who have yet to know their status.

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The MALE Center is dedicated to addressing the high incidence of
HIV/AIDS in greater Boston 's gay, bisexual and same-gender-loving
men's communities.

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Younger lesbians (aged 18 -35) are more likely than older lesbians (aged 50 and
over) to have delayed obtaining health care . The online survey was also conducted among 341
self-identified U. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based
research methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research
to help its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results.

discrimination equal

S. Percentages may not always add up to 100% because
of computer rounding or the acceptance of multiple answers from respondents
answering that question.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls. 294, No. A total of 1,767 (78%) were men who had one or
more male sex partners and agreed to the survey, HIV test, and STARHS
test (range by city: 222 -462). The proportion of unrecognized HIV infection was highest
among MSM who were aged <30 years, nonwhite, and surveyed in the four
cities other than San Francisco. MSM
were more likely to have been tested during the preceding year if they
had visited a health -care provider and their provider recommended an
HIV test.

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hieurope.com), Paris-based
Novatris (http://www.com

The JAMA report included HIV prevalence data from the study
(which took place from June 2004 through April 2005, participants in five of seventeen National
HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) system cities (Baltimore, April 2005. Participants were recruited at bars (30 %), street locations
(20%), dance clubs (19%), cafes/retail stores (10%), Gay Pride events
(6%), social organizations (5%), gyms (5%), sex establishments (3%),
and parks (1%).

* Of the 450 HIV-infected MSM, 217 (48%) were unaware of their HIV
infections .

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TABLE 5
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
"You mentioned that you felt discriminated against in your doctor or another
health care professional's office. Did you feel discriminated against because
of your . adults have
a sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Unfortunately,
there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that
are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error.

About Mautner Project, The National Lesbian Health Organization
Mautner Project, The National Lesbian Health Organization improves the
health of lesbians and their families through advocacy, education, research,
and direct service."

Among the study's findings:

* . Sadly, that 40,000 figure has
remained constant for more than a decade, despite a 2001 pledge by the CDC
that it would strive to halve the rate.

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TABLE 3
DELAYS IN OBTAINING HEALTH CARE
"Have any of the following ever caused you to delay obtaining health care?
Please select all that apply."

Base: Those discriminated against in a health care setting

Total GLB* Lesbian* Heterosexual
(n=360) (n=34) (n=98) (n=311)
% % % %
Income level 36 39 20 35
Weight 23 26 31 23
Age 19 7 7 21
Race 19 30 10 19
Gender 13 6 15 14
Physical or mental disability 12 9 19 12
Sexual orientation 6 52 74 1
Marital status 5 20 8 3
National origin 4 17 1 3
Gender identity or expression 2 1 5 2
Religious faith 2 2 2 2
Other 22 28 12 20

* Very low base .

PRESS RELEASE Male Center: Pre-Opening Tour +amp; Community Reception

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- The top two health risks lesbians are worried about for themselves are
being overweight (17%) and being out of shape/not physically fit (16%)

"Getting lesbians to the doctor would be a huge first step in preventing
chronic illness among the nation's lesbian population; but to accomplish that,
there will have to be a significant change in the way that doctors and their
staffs and their lesbian clients communicate," said Amari Sokoya
Pearson-Fields, deputy director of the Mautner Project.m. JAMA Article Reports on CDC Study That Showed 48% of Men Infected With HIV
Were Unaware of Their Infection..

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- Lesbians are more likely than heterosexuals to say that bad experiences
with health care providers in the past has caused them to delay
obtaining health care (27% vs.. Figures for age, sex,
race, education and number of adults in the household were weighted where
necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population.

About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.Y.

The study's authors concluded that to decrease HIV transmission, men who
have sex with men should be encouraged to receive an HIV test at least
annually, and prevention programs should improve means of reaching persons
unaware of their HIV status, especially those in populations
disproportionately at risk. These startling numbers, both the
one million overall living with HIV/AIDS and the 48% of MSM testing positive
who were unaware of their infection, clearly show that we need to rethink and
revamp our HIV testing and prevention strategies both on a local and national
level.

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New National Survey Shows Financial Concerns and Lack of Adequate Health Insurance are Top Causes for Delay by Lesbians in Obtaining Health Care

This survey is another in a line of important wake-up calls for the medical
establishment. An
asterisk (*) signifies a value of less than one-half percent.

TABLE 1
WHICH HEALTH ISSUES DESERVE THE MOST ATTENTION?
"Turning now to the topic of health issues, which of the following health
issues do you think deserves the most attention from health care professionals
and public policy makers?"

Base: All Adults

Total GLB Lesbian Heterosexual
(n=2,209)(n=119) (n=341) (n=2,024)
% % % %
Health Insurance Coverage 35 35 41 35
Cancer 15 3 9 16
Obesity 9 10 12 9
HIV/AIDS 9 18 9 8
Fitness education and programs (i. lesbian adults aged 18 and over. In addition, given the low incidence of
response from transgendered individuals , it is extremely difficult to draw
conclusions from the data captured.harrispollonline. Perkins, MA, MDiv.

Feds Say Half of Gay Men Who Have HIV Don't Know It Notes AHF

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The survey
was conducted online between January 11 and 16, 2005 by Harris Interactive(R)
in conjunction with the Mautner Project , The National Lesbian Health
Organization.

While GLB respondents (18% overall) and lesbians (9%) think that
HIV/AIDS deserves the most attention, fitness is also high on their list
(13% and 14% respectively)."

Base: All Adults

Total GLB Lesbian Heterosexual
(n=2,209) (n=119 ) (n=341) (n=2,024)
% % % %
Discriminated (NET) 16 22 27 16
Doctor or other health
care provider's office 9 16 18 9
Hospital 8 14 11 7
Public health department
or clinic 5 15 4 4
Community health center 3 9 4 3
Other health care setting 2 4 3 2
I have not been
discriminated against in 84 78 73 84
any health care setting.harrisinteractive.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting
with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and
application. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, visit http://www.

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In
addition, 341 self-identified U . "Stigma and the potential for discrimination has, for years,
been a major obstacle for lesbians and gays seeking appropriate health care. Sampling error for the
following sub-sample results: heterosexuals (2,024); GLB adults (119);
lesbians (341); lesbians aged 18-35 (73) and aged 50 and over (87); and adults
(360), heterosexuals (311), GLB adults (34), and lesbians (98) who experienced
discrimination in a health care setting is higher and varies.