Mautner Project
promotes lung cancer awareness

The Mautner Project, a national lesbian health organization, has joined with other gay and lesbian organizations to raise awareness of the risks of lung cancer among lesbians who smoke. To help promote the agency's "Delicious Lesbian Kisses" smoking cessation initiative, Mautner is selling red wristbands with the words "Delicious Lesbian Kisses" to raise money for the national campaign.

"Our hope is to create a sea of red wristbands," says Mautner deputy director and "Delicious Lesbian Kisses" coordinator, Amari Sokoya Pearson-Fields. "Supporting the 'Delicious Lesbian Kisses' wristband campaign is an opportunity for both the LGBT and heterosexual communities to show support for lesbians fighting lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses."

Studies have shown gay men and lesbians are significantly more likely to smoke than their heterosexual peers and as such are at a higher risk of smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer and emphysema.

Mautner officials say the red wristbands serve as a reminder and symbol of encouragement to lesbians to remain smoke-free for the sake of their personal health and the health of their loved ones. The wristbands are available for $2 each, and can be purchased online at www.mautnerproject.org. (Advocate.com)