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 rese arch before solutions to them can be identified. This paper describes NIH s ponsored research listing homosexuality as a primary or secondary issue bet ween 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 f or HIV projects. Considering the range of health threats to these communiti es and the amounts needed to deal with HIV alone, current funding is clearl y inadequate. Community members, scientists, experts, and others need to ta ke action if appropriate research is to be done and the health needs of the se groups are to be addressed.