History: Mautner Project was founded in 1990 following the death of Mary-Helen Mautner in 1989 of breast cancer. Shortly before her death, Mary-Helen asked her partner, Susan Hester, to start an organization that could help other lesbians facing the overwhelming challenges of life-threatening illnesses.

Mission: Mautner Project is committed to improving the health of women who partner with women including lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, through direct and support services, education and advocacy.

Vision: Mautner Project envisions a health care system that is respectful of and accessible to all without regard for their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Our vision is a society in which all individuals are empowered with the knowledge to utilize these resources and to make appropriate choices for themselves.

Programs: In addition to providing phone support and resource referrals for lesbians nationally and in a variety of community health workshops, The Mautner Project offers a variety of programs:

• Removing the Barriers® to Accessing Health Care for Lesbians - the first and only training program for physicians and health care staffs on the health care needs of lesbians;
• Spirit Health Education (S.H.E.)Circle® - a national health education program focused on African-American women who partner with women. This comprehensive, holistic program fully utilizes the multi-dimensional influences of culture and sexuality;
• EDUcate – a new breast health program focused on the needs of currently low-income African American lesbian and bisexual women;
• The Mautner Project® client support and information/referral program - is a client navigation program utilizing a national referral information, web page, and phone/online support, to help newly diagnosed LBT cancer patients, their families and caregivers navigate the healthcare system.
• LBT health advocacy through health coalitions targeting public policies, as well as through education and training.

Services: Direct services have always played a major part in making our mission statement reality for the LBT community. Currently, we offer direct services through:

• A program to support LBT people with cancer; supervised volunteers provide transportation, home and hospital visits, yard work and other direct services to LBT people with cancer and other life threatening illnesses;
• Technical assistance and capacity building for lesbian and lesbian friendly health projects nationwide;
• LBT focused health education and outreach to a variety of audiences;
• LBT health advocacy through health coalitions, education and training; and
• Support groups on various subjects including bereavement, caregivers to cancer patients, tobacco cessation, and more.

Milestones: As the only national lesbian health organization, the Mautner Project continues to develop strong national, regional and local visibility as it increases its advocacy, education, research, training and support-services. Some of the Mautner Project’s milestones include:

• Founding and facilitating the National Lesbian-Feminist Health Coalition projects;
• Co-founding the board of the National Breast Cancer Coalition;
• Conducted a national study (funded by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Breast Cancer Foundation) on breast cancer and the health behaviors of Black Lesbian/Bisexual Women;
• Conducted trainings for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on culturally competent care for lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, training some 6,000 physicians and health care providers on issues important to lesbian health;
• Providing the largest local services program for lesbians with cancer in the U.S.;
• Founding and organizing Healing Works: The National Conference on Lesbians & Cancer;
• Publishing Coming Out Of Cancer: Voices From The Lesbian Cancer Epidemic; Partnering with more than one hundred (100) health organizations across the country working to bring LGBT health issues to the forefront;
• Founding the organizational and executive committee of the National LGBT Health Coalition and the National LGBT Action Plan Committee;
• Creating the EDUcate peer education program for African American lesbian and bisexual women’s health.
• Training some 6,000 healthcare professionals nationwide in Removing the Barriers ; and
• Membership in the National LGBT Health Coalition, the Lesbian Advisory Board of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; the GLBT Advisory Board of Aetna; the National Advisory council for the Healthcare Equality Index; the National LGBT Policy Roundtable; the New Beginnings Coalition, the American Cancer Society's National Capital LGBT Council; and the Center for Population Research in LGBT Health of the Fenway Institute.

Organizational Structure: The Mautner Project 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.