prnewswire. A dash
represents a value of zero.

harder heterosexual

Y. 12%).5 percent .
They include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and
question order, and weighting. queried gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) self-identified respondents.

harder increasingly

"

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.

TABLE 5
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
"You mentioned that you felt discriminated against in your doctor or another
health care professional 's office. Although we
remain interested in the consumer attitudes and characteristics of
transgendered individuals, for accuracy and consistency we distinguish sexual
orientation from gender identity .

Information about domestic violence in gay and lesbian relationships.

violence reluctance

- 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.com

stopping silence

Vatican health
secretary Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan recently stated, "The use of
prophylactics is unacceptable even as a solution to the problem of AIDS,
because the objective is the fight against fornication. Did you feel discriminated against because
of your . Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for
respondents' propensity to be online. We envision a healthcare system that is guided by social
justice and responsive to the needs of all people.

silence behaviors

condomania."
The L."
Gay Men's Health Crisis is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and
community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight
against AIDS.condomania. "Stigma and the potential for discrimination has, for years,
been a major obstacle for lesbians and gays seeking appropriate health care."

Notes on reading tables:
The percentage of respondents has been included for each item.

prevalent homosexual

If this
encourages even one person to get tested and use condoms, then we've helped . Gay + Lesbian Center is the largest gay and lesbian organization
in the world offering a wide array of services for the GLBT community, in
addition to free and anonymous HIV testing for anyone, regardless of sexual
orientation.
This survey is another in a line of important wake-up calls for the medical
establishment.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. It is impossible to quantify the errors that
may result from these factors. 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), 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.

prevalent prejudice

Condomania is the home of TheyFit(TM) Condoms, the
world's first sized-to-fit condoms in 55 sizes.

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).

domestic silence

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and New York's Gay Men's Health Crisis to
Provide Free Madonna Condoms With Each HIV Test

LOS ANGELES, Condomania
(http://www. 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. 20%)."

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.. 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.

multnomah increasingly

Upon hearing the news of Condomania's donation, the Center's
Chief Public Affairs Officer Jim Key stated, "We're grateful for Condomania's
support and for calling attention to the Catholic Church's stance on condom
use. In fulfilling this mission, GMHC will remain true to its
heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all
gay men and lesbians.
These are some of the results of a nationwide online survey of 2,209 U.
"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.

Additional Note: Previous research conducted by Harris Interactive in
conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.S.

prevalent heterosexual

Responding to New Pope's Hard-Line Ban on Condoms Condomania (R) Donates 30 000 'Madonna' Condoms

com), America's first condom store, will provide
30,000 "Madonna " condoms to Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center (LAGLC) and Gay
Men's Health Crisis in New York (GMHC ) for distribution with each HIV test.
Adam Glickman
http://profnet.com/ud_public.S. An
asterisk (*) signifies a value of less than one-half percent.com), Paris-based
Novatris (http://www.

swimmer silence

About Condomania(R)
Condomania (http://www. ROCHESTER, N.

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). lesbian adults aged 18 and over. 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. (http://www.harrispollonline. 25
slloyd@witeckcombs.

prejudice multnomah

The donated condoms, featuring the licensed image of pop icon Madonna, serve
as Condomania's response to the new Pope's stance forbidding condom use to
prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. We all can, and must,
protect ourselves.
Overall, three quarters (75%) of lesbians (compared to 54% of
heterosexuals) have delayed obtaining health care for at least one reason.

- Among lesbians, 16 percent report that they have delayed obtaining
health care because they were concerned they would be discriminated
against.S.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.Y.

homosexual reluctance

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. Percentages may not always add up to 100% because
of computer rounding or the acceptance of multiple answers from respondents
answering that question .
In theory, with probability samples of this size, one can say with 95
percent certainty that the results for the overall sample of U.

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.

About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.com), the 15th
largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester,
N.novatris.com

Shameka Lloyd
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887-0500 ext.

battered prejudice

lesbian adults were surveyed.
Younger lesbians (aged 18-35) are more likely than older lesbians (aged 50 and
over) to have delayed obtaining health care.

- 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. 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. The online survey was also conducted among 341
self-identified U.S. adults have
a sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.harrisinteractive.hieurope.com.

societal glbt

We're glad Condomania has taken such a lead on making
condoms widely available," said George Ayala, Director of the Institute for
Gay Men's Health, a collaboration between GMHC and AIDS Project Los Angeles
(APLA).jsp?userid=499309

e. ? Please select all that apply. 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.

stopping homosexual

The Pope's unwavering opposition to condoms can only worsen this
pandemic. "Condoms have been universally proven to provide the
best protection against HIV and other STIs. 18
cdermody@witeckcombs.

silence batterers

com), America's first condom store, was
established June 1991.

Kevin Segall
323-969-0102 x203 Kevin@condomania.S. In
addition, 341 self-identified U.

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.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital , databases and
technology to advance market leadership through U.

heterosexual battered

com

Available Topic Expert (s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.

Press Contacts:

Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316

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

glbt battering

A. Using a condom, along with
knowing one 's HIV status, are key elements to stopping the transmission of
HIV, thus saving lives.

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

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

- Heterosexuals are more likely than lesbians to believe that they were
discriminated against because of their income level (35% vs.

- 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.

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.
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."

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. 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.

louganis acknowledge

While our selection of "Madonna" condoms is
admittedly irreverent , the reality of the situation is quite tragic. Today, Condomania's flagship store in New York and its
website assist and educate shoppers of every age, gender and sexual
orientation in purchasing condoms and safer-sex products, making safer sex
fun, hip and accessible."

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).

battering swimmer

"
Condomania CEO Adam Glickman explains, "Nearly 40 million people worldwide
are infected with HIV -- nearly 250,000 Americans don't even know they're
infected..

increasingly prevalent

" Glickman continues, "Condom use and testing are critical to
curbing the spread of HIV. This online sample is not a probability sample.

glbt homosexual

, 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. 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. In addition, given the low incidence of
response from transgendered individuals, it is extremely difficult to draw
conclusions from the data captured.

offices and wholly owned
subsidiaries: London-based HI Europe (http://www.

louganis societal

AIDS is ravaging the world and by opposing the use of condoms, the Pope
is contributing to the spread of this deadly plague . "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.-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting
with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and
application.