History:  The 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:  The Mautner Project improves the health of lesbians and their families through advocacy, education, research, and direct service.  We envision a healthcare system that is guided by social justice and responsive to the needs of all people.

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 is the first and only training program for physicians and health care staffs on the health care needs of lesbians;
• Spirit Health Education Circle® is a new 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;
• Heart Truth for Lesbians is the first national coronary health awareness program for lesbians;
• SAIL Navigation Program®: is a client navigation program utilizing a resource center, national referral information, web page, family services and phone/online support, to help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, their families and caregivers navigate the barriers of the healthcare system;
• Family Coordination Program provides direct services and support groups for lesbians and their families in the Washington, D.C. Metro area.

Services:  The Mautner Project provides direct services for lesbians; it provides technical assistance and capacity building for lesbian and lesbian friendly health projects nationwide; the Mautner Project provides lesbian focused health education and outreach to a variety of audiences; and it serves lesbian health advocacy through health coalitions, education and training.

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 and serving on the board of the National Breast Cancer Coalition;
• Conducted a national study (funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation) on beast 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 more than 1,000 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 AND 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; and
• Founding the organizational and executive committee of the National LGBT Health Coalition and the National LGBT Action Plan Committee.

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.

For more information, please contact us:

202.332.5536 or mautner@mautnerproject.org