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Lesbian lives unlimited: Psycho-social sexual experiences of lesbian women in Tshwane
Delene van Dyk, OUT
November 10, 2010

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Introduction

The aim of the research was to understand the lived lives of lesbian identified woman in Tshwane (Pretoria). The idea was to investigate their psychosocial and sexual histories through in depth qualitative interviews. Most funded research projects exclude lesbian, bisexual and transgendered women, since the focus is mainly on MSM. This translates into a lack of appropriate service provision to lesbian identified woman. The health, specifically sexual health issues of lesbian women, is often completely ignored, especially when it comes to HIV issues.

This research affords OUT learning opportunities to address lesbian health and wellbeing issues. It gives a "voice" to lesbian women, to share their lives and its impact with others, the LGBT sector, the research communities and service providers. This report will provide the opportunity to present this valuable research to the international and South African research community and have an impact on specific programmatic interventions for lesbian women. Through using the results of the study in sensitization trainings (advocacy and mainstreaming efforts), health care and other service providers would be supported to be sensitive to the health needs of lesbian women. They would be able utilize the scientific evidence to develop and provide health services specifically designed for lesbian women. It will add to the growing LGBT research activities and body of knowledge, locally and internationally.

But before the methodology and results of the study are discussed, an overview of South Africa in terms of politics, culture and religion is given. This will give the reader a better idea of the socio political context in which this study was conducted.

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