Last year Pride successfully applied funding from the Department for Community Development’s Office of Women’s Policy to run a women’s health forum. The women’s health forum, which is set to run on Sunday June 10, is entitled ‘THE INVISIBLE POPULATION – Creating a Healthier Community for Lesbian, Bisexual and Same Sex Attracted Women in WA’. Female Pride Co-president Tanya Croft has played an instrumental role in organizing the event. Tanya is well equipped to organise such an event, as she is currently studying her Masters of Health Promotion at Curtin, focusing on the health needs of the GLBTI community. She is concerned that the lesbian and bisexual women’s community have not had many opportunities to discuss their health issues.
Tanya explained that ‘Research paints a picture of lesbian, bisexual and same sex attracted women having poorer health outcomes on a number of measures, than their heterosexual counterparts. This includes higher levels of self harm and suicide, stigma, discrimination and isolation and suffer higher incidences of depression and anxiety. They are more likely to be overweight or obese, less likely to utilise preventative health services and report higher incidences of tobacco, alcohol and drug use’, adding that ‘This forum will provide an opportunity to explore some of these issues we face in a safe and positive environment.’
The forum is being presented in collaboration with the WA Centre for Health Promotion Research (WACHPR). The initial results from the Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health survey conducted in late 2006 have just been released, and WACHPR’s Jude Comfort will be presenting some of those results. Other topics to be covered on the day include sexual and mental health, strategies for staying healthy, same sex domestic violence, getting pregnant safely and alcohol and other drug information.
Tanya Croft said ‘It’s going to be a great day. We have several community groups coming along in the lunchbreak to set up stalls and talk to women. I hope that lesbian and bisexual women take advantage of this unique event and give it the support it deserves.’
The forum is to be held at Curtin University and runs from from 10am to 4.30pm on Sunday June 10. It will be followed with a social gathering where women can have a quiet drink, enjoy lovely food and listen to Anita Downes on the guitar. Although it’s a free event, registration is essential.
To register, email healthforum@pridewa.asn.au or call the Pride Office on 9427 0828 and leave your details.
