Gay Male, Lesbian and Bisexual Health-Related Research Funded by the National Institutes of Health Between 1974 and 1992

Health-related problems among lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men require research before solutions to them can be identified. This paper describes NIH sponsored research listing homosexuality as a primary or secondary issue between 1974 and 1992. Homosexual projects unrelated to HIV and excluding capitol funding averaged only 532, 000 per year compared to about 20 million per year since 1982 for HIV projects. Considering the range of health threats to these communities and the amounts needed to deal with HIV alone, current funding is clearly inadequate. Community members, scientists, experts, and others need to take action if appropriate research is to be done and the health needs of these groups are to be addressed.