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Depression is the Major Gay & Lesbian
Health Concern

Survey Made by Lesbian & Gay Medical Professionals

Topping the List of Feared Ailments� It Surpasses HIV

Compiled By GayToday

New York, New York--Depression tops the list of health concerns for lesbian and gay men, according to an exclusive gay health survey just released by GayHealth.com(TM)

The site, which launched April 15th, is the first worldwide source of health and wellness information for the gay community created and operated by lesbian and gay medical professionals. GayHealth.com(TM) was just named a "Hot Site" by USA Today.

The survey ranked depression as the top health concern, even surpassing HIV, for both lesbians (35 percent of those surveyed) and gay men (32 percent of those surveyed).

This figure is even more striking when compared with a similar survey of heterosexuals also conducted. Results showed that gay men and lesbians are approximately two times more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to be concerned about depression.

"Depression in the lesbian and gay community is an ongoing problem fueled by anti-gay discrimination and hate," said Dr. Stephen E. Goldstone, MD.

"Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a prime example of why gays and lesbians feel alone with few places to turn. Homosexuality does not cause depression; a sense of isolation does. "

According to the gay health survey, prostate and testicular problems, HIV, sexually transmitted disease (STDs) and hepatitis followed depression respectively as the top five health concerns of gay men. For lesbians, breast cancer, cervical cancer, menstrual pain and estrogen replacement followed depression as major health concerns.

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GayToday does not endorse related sites.

"Through no fault of their own doctors have been conditioned to think of HIV as the sole aspect of gay healthcare, and patients have been reluctant to discuss other problems they face," said Dr. Susan C. Ball, MD.

GayHealth.com(TM) was founded by Stephen E. Goldstone, M.D., Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and author of the best selling Dell book The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex, and Susan Ball, MD, MPH, Assistant Director of the Center for Special Studies, Bernbaum Unit, HIV Care Center, at New York Presbyterian Hospital and a regular columnist for The AIDS Reader. The GayHealth.com(TM) surveys were conducted by FlashFocus, a market research company, and included more than 1,750 respondents.