History
Maureen Sweeney & Corinne Kawecki,
early LCCP pioneers
Founded by feminists in 1990, the Lesbian Community Cancer Project was created to making the medical establishment more sensitive and responsive to women, specifically lesbians, and to helping women make more informed decisions about their care.
Based on community feedback and surveys, LCCP and Howard Brown began a strategic alliance in 2004 that built on both organizations' strengths and benefited the entire LGBT community. LCCP moved into Howard Brown Health Center, maintaining separate 501(c)3 statuses, but beginning work together on programmatic initiatives.
In 2007, holding the founders' vision of creating a world in which lesbian health is a paramount priority, the board of directors of both LCCP and Howard Brown ushered in a new day. LCCP merged with Howard Brown, becoming the Lesbian Community Care Project, a program of Howard Brown Health Center. Both organizations recognized the potential created in merging and knew they could improve even more lesbians' health as one organization.
Today LCCP is the lesbian heart of Howard Brown, improving the health of lesbian bisexual, and queer women and transgender individuals through groundbreaking research, sensitive medical care, programming and education on lesbian health topics and an array of mental health services, including quit smoking groups.
LCCP has been the recipient of numerous accolades including: the Human Rights Campaign Torch Award in 1996; induction to the City of Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1999; and Horizons' Human First Award in 2002.
Mission
The Lesbian Community Care Project, a program of Howard Brown Health Center, promotes the health of lesbian, bisexual and queer women and transgender individuals through healthcare, advocacy, public education, research and programming.
The mission of Howard Brown is to promote the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons through the provision of health care and wellness programs, including clinical, educational, social service and research activities. Howard Brown designed these programs to serve gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons in a confidential, supportive, and nurturing environment. Howard Brown Health Center is committed to working cooperatively with other community-based organizations serving and contributing to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.