Lesbian Health Fund Grant

The Lesbian Health Fund (LHF), part of GLMA, is dedicated to improving the health of LGBTQ+ women and girls through scientific research funding. Established in 1992, LHF has allocated over $1.2 million to 126 projects, highlighting the urgent need for understanding the specific health challenges this community faces. By addressing disparities and focusing on marginalized subpopulations, LHF aims to drive significant advancements in LGBTQ+ health care and education.

GLMA Mission
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments.  To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research.
Lesbian Health Fund Background
The Lesbian Health Fund (LHF), a program of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, was established in 1992 to define, study, and educate lesbians and other sexual minority women, as well as their healthcare providers, about health issues facing the community. Today, we are still committed to improving the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ women & girls through funding rigorous scientific research. LHF is the only US research fund dedicated solely to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ women and girls.
Priority Areas
The LHF Grant Committee welcomes all proposals that identify or address health disparities among LGBTQ+ women and girls (e.g., sexual and/or gender minority women or girls, gender diverse people assigned female at birth); however, special consideration will be given to proposals that focus on the following:
Research that generates pilot data for subsequent training or early-stage investigator grantsSubpopulations that are often underrepresented in sexual and gender minority (SGM) research, including but not limited to:Adolescents/YouthBlack, Indigenous, and Other People of ColorBisexual peopleGender diverse peopleIntersex individuals or individuals with differences in sex development (DSD)Older adultsPeople who experience multiple points of marginalizationPersons with disabilities People with military backgroundsRural communitiesMethods & frameworksMeasurement & methods of LGBTQ+ peopleCommunity-informed/community-based participatory researchTrauma-informed researchSocial & behavioral researchIntersectionalitySexual and Gender Minority Health Disparities Research FrameworkTopical areaSexual and reproductive health, including family & parenting issuesThe impact of the pandemic on health and wellbeing Educational initiatives (e.g., curriculum development)Acute care/hospitalization experiencesAccess to healthcare issuesAcross the lifespan issuesViolence prevention

Eligibility

Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty interested in pursuing a research career focused on LGBTQ+ women or girls are invited to apply. Senior scholars, faculty, and non-profit organizations interested in expanding their program of research into this population are also welcome to apply. Applicants’ organizations or institutions must have a US tax ID. LHF has previously funded researchers outside of the US and welcomes proposals involving LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people around the world.

Ineligibility

Grant money is NOT awarded for completed research or for projects in progress. Current LHF grantees may not participate in a new grant as PI or Co-Investigator until LHF receives the written Final Report for their current grant, except for mentor co investigators supervising multiple trainee applicants/LHF grantees.