Witeck -Combs Communications/Harris Interactive Survey Suggests Gays More
Likely to Reinvest Assets and Remain More Wary of Financial Institutions

ROCHESTER, N.com

" So in keeping with that theme, local organizers are making it
easier for LGBT individuals to do just that.

judges homosexuality

Trusting and welcoming
institutions remain a far higher priority to GLB adults than to non-gay
respondents .
And GLB respondents (34%) say they are dissatisfied with the assistance
provided by their financial institutions (vs. 59 71 59
I am not very knowledgeable about the
stock market.

challenged affirmative

44 49 44
I worry about my individual privacy
when dealing with financial
institutions.
Witeck-Combs Communications , Inc.hieurope.

challenged fosters

S. 59 56 60
It's important to me to know that a
financial institution does not
discriminate.harrisinteractive.com), Novatris in
Paris (http://www.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, http://www.

listserv professionally

"
(% Very/Somewhat agree)
Base: All Adults

Total GLB Heterosexual
% % %
I am in control of my finances. In April 2003, American
Demographics magazine identified Bob Witeck and Wes Combs as two of 25 experts
over the last 25 years who have made significant contributions to the fields
of demographics, market research, media and trendspotting for their
pathbreaking work on the gay and lesbian market.

clearinghouse psychological

The survey was conducted online between May 4 and 10, 2005 by Harris
Interactive (R) in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. It is growing clearer however that gays and lesbians share these
concerns but have different attitudes toward investing and toward forming
trusted relationships with financial institutions," said Jake Stafford, senior
communications strategist at Witeck-Combs Communications. 46 45 47
I feel confident enough to make
sensible investment decisions. 27 36 26
I am dissatisfied with the assistance
that has been provided to me by
financial institutions.
City officials will be on hand for a 2PM press conference, prior to the
start of the health fair, to read a Mayoral Proclamation declaring March 12th-
18th LGBT Health Awareness Week here in Philadelphia." Other
organizations will be on hand to distribute information about various health
issues, such as mental health, heart health, substance abuse, fitness,
domestic violence , and safety, among others.

psychologies fosters

, a
strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special
expertise in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender market.
The local effort is being headed up by The SafeGuards Project / LGBT Health
Resource Center, Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia FIGHT, GALAEI , The ATTIC Youth
Center, as well as city representatives from the Mayor's Office and the
Department of Public Health.
There will also be a presentation on "HIV and Renal Disease.

challenged staffed

(1)
For example , when U.)
Shein says among the offerings at the health fair will be blood pressure
screenings , breast health consults, as well as a machine to test carbon
monoxide levels for smokers.
Fact sheets about health topics of concern to LGBT individuals can be
found at http://www.
(http: //www.

discplines caucuses

68% of non-gays). 24 34 24
I worry about bad investment
decisions I have made in the past. 19
bwiteck@witeckcombs.

psychiatrists unprejudiced

" Only three out of ten (30 %) gays also say they "trust
financial institutions to respect customers like me" (vs.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and
technology to advance market leadership through its U. Part of National LGBT Health Awareness Week

PHILADELPHIA, Several LGBT-focused organizations
are joining forces with the City of Philadelphia to sponsor a health fair on
Wednesday, March 15th, in order to shine the spotlight on the health of the
region 's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Awareness Week is
sponsored and organized nationally by the National Coalition for LGBT Health.

listserv discplines

Seven out of ten (71%) GLB adults and 59 percent of non-gay
respondents say, "It is important to me to know that a financial institution
does not discriminate.)?"

All Adults

Total GLB Heterosexual
% % %
Bundled products managed
by one representative or
company 39 48 39
Multiple vendors for
financial services 30 25 30
Neither of these 10 7 11
Does not matter 20 20 20

Methodology
Harris Interactive(R) conducted the study online within the United States
between May 4 and 10, 2005, among a nationwide cross section of 2,322 adults
(aged 18 and over ), of whom 158 self-identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual
(GLB).

About Witeck-Combs Communications , Inc.

judges caucus

Similarly, eight out of ten (80%) gays say they would reinvest the
$100,000 in checking , savings or money market accounts (vs.
The new survey also asked both GLB and non-gay respondents whether they
agree or disagree with a number of statements about their financial health and
the financial institutions that serve them.
This online sample is not a probability sample. In addition , given the low incidence of
response from transgendered individuals, it is extremely difficult to draw
conclusions from the data captured. With over nine years experience
in this unique market , Witeck-Combs Communications has developed respected
relationships throughout the community and serves as a bridge between
corporate America and gay and lesbian consumers.

(1) Please note that base size for the GLB sample is very low, so caution
should be used when considering comparisons to heterosexuals or adults
overall.

stimulates sociological

These are a few highlights of a nationwide survey of 2,322 U. 39 40 39
I enjoy learning about investing and
talking with friends and family about
it. (http://www.
"Too often, we wait until we feel sick to get ourselves to the doctor,"
says Mazzoni Center Executive Director Nurit Shein.

fosters judges

In addition, if reaping windfall earnings such as $100,000, over half of
GLB respondents (55%) say they would be somewhat or very likely to treat
themselves to "a luxury item" such as jewelry , clothes or a car, compared to
44 percent of heterosexual adults.)
"Managing, protecting and growing financial assets are important to
everyone.

About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.novatris. EOE M/F/D/V.

transgendered staffed

adults are asked how they likely would use some or part
of $100,000 they earned due to investing, approximately eight out of 10 (82%)
gays and 73 percent of heterosexuals say they would reinvest the money into
tax-free accounts.
Not surprisingly, given the higher incidence of children in non-gay
households, heterosexual adults (68%) are more likely than gays (24%) to say
that they would put money aside for children or grandchildren. 24% of heterosexuals ). 33 36 33
I don't trust financial institutions
to respect customers like me. 19 19 19
Investing is something I feel obligated
to do, but I don't enjoy doing it. 18 15 18

TABLE 3
BUNDLED OR UNBUNDLED SERVICES
"If there is little difference on price, quality and function of a product or
a service , would you prefer to bundle your financial services and products
from one financial institution or broker/representative, or use different
financial institutions for each financial product (such as insurance,
investing, general banking, etc. They include refusals to be
interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order and weighting.witeckcombs.com .net/awarenessweek06.net).

judges psychiatric

, According to a recent nationwide
online survey, gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) adults may differ from
heterosexuals when considering their personal financial needs -- especially
decisions on investing, spending and working with financial institutions. adults, of
whom seven percent (158) identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual. (http://www.

Philadelphia LGBT Health Fair
Wednesday, March 15th 2PM - 6PM
William Way Community Center
1315 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA

stimulates listserv

Sampling error for the GLB sample
results is plus or minus 8 percentage points.harrispollonline.

Local LGBT Organizations to Sponsor Health Fair

lgbthealth.

caucus judges

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95
percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling
error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls. Although we
remain interested in the consumer attitudes and characteristics of
transgendered individuals, for accuracy and consistency we distinguish sexual
orientation from gender identity .com), and through an independent global network of
affiliate market research companies.

caucuses discplines

"These data provide
many insights financial institutions may use to successfully reach out to
their current and prospective gay customers in a direct manner that meets
their needs as individuals and families .
It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors.com), the 15th
largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester,
NY-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with
innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application.

Press Contacts:

Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316

Kelly Gullo
Harris Interactive
585-214-7172

Bob Witeck
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887-0500 ext. "We're tying to make it
as easy and convenient as possible for community members to come in, get
checked out, as well as find out about other important health information.

homosexuality psychological

Y. 24 24 25
In my case, investment decisions are
about luck, not skill. There are several other possible
sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than
theoretical calculations of sampling error.
The theme for this year's health awareness week is "Own Your Health. Get
Checked Out."
The health fair will take place right in the heart of the "Gayborhood," at
the William Way Community Center, at 1315 Spruce Street.

LGBT caucuses and professional organizations of different discplines.

judges caucuses

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

lesbians unprejudiced

National Survey Reveals Gay and Heterosexual Personal Financial Decisions May Differ

36% of non-gays). Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and income were weighted
where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the
population . Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for
respondents' propensity to be online. queried gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) self-identified respondents.lgbthealth.

discplines homosexuality

Perhaps underscoring how gays believe trust plays a role in choosing a
financial vendor, if there is little difference on price, quality and function
of a product or a service, gays (48%) would prefer to bundle their financial
services and products from one financial institution or broker/representative
while one in four (25%) gay adults say they prefer different financial
institutions for each financial product (such as insurance, investing, general
banking, etc."

TABLE 1
LIKELY INVESTMENT DECISIONS WITH $100,000
"If you were to make $100,000 due to investing, how likely would you be to use
some part of that money for each of the following?
(Percentages of those who say very or somewhat likely)

Base: All Adults

Total GLB Heterosexual
% % %
Traveling for pleasure 75 80 75
Reinvest the money into tax-free
accounts (such as retirement
accounts/bonds) 73 82 73
Improving your home, or buying a
vacation or retirement home 69 67 70
Reinvest the money in checking,
savings, or money market accounts 68 80 68
Putting money aside for your children
or grandchildren 64 24 68
Making substantial contributions to
charities , institutions, or causes
you agree with 61 57 62
Reinvest in the stock market 53 59 53
Treating yourself to a luxury item
such as expensive jewelry, clothes,
or a car 45 55 44
Early retirement 39 48 39
Starting your own business 26 31 26

TABLE 2
AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ABOUT FINANCIAL HEALTH
"Please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with the following
statements.

fosters psychologies

S.com) is the
nation's premier strategic marketing communications firm, specializing in
reaching the gay and lesbian consumer market. offices and wholly
owned subsidiaries, HI Europe in London (http://www.
The fair is part of National LGBT Health Awareness Week, March 12th-18th . There will also be a Mobile Testing Unit parked
right outside the Center, where individuals can get tested for HIV.

lesbians judges

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. (Spruce and Juniper
Sts.