October 22nd, 1997 to October 28th, 1997

Hull House, Cook County, Howard Brown: A Tradition of Helping-HBHC's new building enlarges services O'Hanlan among those to be honored at Annual Dinner

by P.J. Engelbrecht

Not even rain could dampen spirits as Oct. 4 ceremonies marked completion of Howard Brown Health Center's new 20,000-square foot, $3.5 million facility at 4025 N. Sheridan Rd.

The Center opened its doors to clients at the new location Oct. 20, upon completion of final interior work, becoming the first lesbigay organization in Illinois to construct its own building. Mayor Richard Daley and gay community liaison Mary Morten, HBHC board president Paul Lutter and executive director Eileen Durkin together cut the ceremonial ribbon, while such dignitaries as State Rep. Larry McKeon, Ald. Helen Shiller, city health officials Thom Dombkowski and Judith Johns (a former HBHC executive director) watched from the audience of about 125.

A community health fair on Cuyler Street, alongside HBHC, drew crowds throughout the afternoon. Some people toured the new building or enjoyed refreshments provided by Einstein's Bagels, Jack's American Blend restaurant, Coup de Gras catering, and Whole Foods. Many fair-goers took advantage of free stress tests, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings during the volunteer-staffed event. Five-dollar flu shots were available, and 67 free HIV tests were administered in four hours, setting a new HBHC intra-organizational record.

Lutter says Howard Brown's new facility indicates that the health and social services organization has "come of age," adding "We're gonna be here as an institution for a long time." "'Why wouldn't you love that building?!'," Lutter overheard an on-looker remark after the ceremonies.

Indeed, the smooth stone of the bi-level, two-story modern facade houses a remarkably spacious and visually appealing interior. Sparkling metal diamonds on the entryway wall laud major individual and corporate donors. "People from this community really responded. ... It's awesome," said Durkin. Looking around the lobby, she mused, "You think about the amount of dignity ... people [will] feel when they walk in the door."

Among the 1,657 givers who enabled construction were 20 corporations, including Subaru and Bank of America Illinois-which holds the $1.2 million mortgage. HBHC also took out a $500,000 loan from the Illinois Facility Fund. The construction project was completed right on schedule and on budget, with practically no cost overruns. Anne Avery and Lutter co-chaired the "Campaign for the Future" which has raised just over $2 million in additional capital to date. Personal philanthropies ran as high as the $225,000 given by the John S. Baran Fund (Baran once operated the Unicorn Bathhouse), though HBHC spokespeople are quick to point out that the anonymous $1 donation anchoring the other end of the funding scale has been equally appreciated.

The 20-foot ceiling of the reception area easily accommodates the vivid Roger Brown mosaic spanning the room with lustrous emerald, sunflower and gunmetal-blue elements. An internationally known Californian, Brown donated the design; the 10' x 27' piece was assembled in Italy and cost $600,000 to install. Planned specifically for HBHC, Brown's sinuous work depicts Jane Addams and a young male doctor flanked by depictions of three well-known Chicago institutions, titled "Hull House, Cook County, Howard Brown: A Tradition of Helping." The mosaic is more than mere decoration, however. The images suggest the many faces of Howard Brown: social as well as health services; clients who are women and men, gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight; traditional caring coupled with state-of-the-art medical science and technology; senses of history and of community. The new facility will double client capacity, according to Durkin, and new services will be offered. Most notably, Walgreens has constructed an on-site pharmacy on the new facility's first floor, entering into a long-term lease. "What we heard from Walgreens is a commitment to the community," said Durkin. "They have been wonderful to work with. ... We've had nothing but good will and good spirit." Walgreens has also supported HBHC's annual dinner in the past.

All client services are ground-level and fully accessible. Eight Women's Program medical rooms have been equipped with hi-tech gynecological/ examination tables apparently designed by a team from NASA and Lazy-Boy. Private rooms are dedicated specifically to the HIV testing and AIDS care programs. There's a "phlebotomy room" for blood testing, and the in-house lab will ease handling of STD and gynecological tests, with processing at Illinois Masonic labs, as before. Even culposcopies will be available on-site.

"It's a more client-friendly space," said HBHC spokesperson Diane Goodwin. The new facility offers enhanced confidentiality and peace of mind, for the floor plan provides distinct, separate spaces for different services. A large conference and meeting room near the entrance will be available for community use; close at hand stands a resource room housing periodicals and computer facilities. "This building gives us a lot of flexibility in ... expanding new services, such as artificial insemination," Durkin observed, noting that HBHC will provide "the actual [insemination] procedure" plus "gynie back-up." "I think it's almost a moral issue" said Durkin, referring to the necessity for "full service" care in such programs. Durkin herself is mother of two. HBHC may eventually offer complete pediatric care, in addition to primary physician care for adults.

The Women's Program, which is particularly geared to lesbian and bisexual women, is being expanded (see below). Already, HBHC serves over 5,000 clients annually; 34% of Howard Brown's HIV/STD clients declare themselves to be heterosexual. In HBHC's old, rented digs at 945 W. George, clients were greeted by "institutional green paint," exposed plumbing and a flight of stairs. Now, tasteful interior design by Gary Lee & Partners extends even to Mondrianesque floor tiling. Privacy in the tiny medical examination cubicles along the corridor was almost impossible in the old offices. In the past, only a few small psychotherapy rooms were available; now, the number of private spaces has doubled, each boasting natural light.

"I love it-it's a great space for our community [and] to be a part of," remarked Goodwin during a facility tour. Upstairs, alongside administrative and Stop AIDS offices lies the large Sheahan Research Center space, where three projects are currently underway. HBHC hopes to expand its research contributions to the wider medical community, with both HIV/AIDS and women's health studies. And from the east windows, one overlooks HBHC's private parking lot-for patients, not staff. The fresh asphalt behind the pristine new building underscores the message one hears over and again from HBHC personnel: clients, patients, people are the central focus of all HBHC activities and services. All client services are provided on an "ability to pay," sliding scale basis, and HBHC has become remarkably "easy access," situated a block from the Sheridan red line el stop, less than a block from Irving Park Road buses, mere steps from off-street parking. HBHC's new phone number is (773) 388-1600.

Honoring O'Hanlan suggests women well-served at Howard Brown
Of the 5,000 clients served at HBHC per year, 500-750 are women, most lesbian or bisexual. In fact, the growing HBHC Women's Program is "lesbian-centered," according to spokesperson Diane Goodwin. Besides offering primary healthcare, HBHC provides a growing range of gynecological services, from pap smears and breast exams to STD treatment and HIV case management.

At this year's 14th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction, to be held Nov. 1 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, HBHC will honor three notable health advocates with "Friend for Life" awards: Christie Hefner, Chair of Playboy Enterprises and a devoted AIDS fundraiser and activist; former Cragin Federal Bank vice president and philanthropist Dan Ruscitti, who alone has provided almost half of all funds for HBHC's PWA Emergency Assistance Fund since 1994, besides making a major donation to the building fund; and Katherine O'Hanlan, MD, a nationally recognized gynecologist/oncologist and lesbigay healthcare expert with additional expertise in laparoscopic surgical techniques and menopause.

O'Hanlan discussed her work with Outlines in a recent telephone interview.

"We need to make a place for homosexuals in this world," she said adamantly. "Homosexuality is not a danger, but homophobia is." O'Hanlan points out that a survey found "88% of gay and lesbian doctors have heard homophobic comments by [other physicians]" and 60% have experienced discrimination by their colleagues. Of heterosexual physicians, 40% report discomfort in treating gays.

O'Hanlan decries such evidence of pervasive homophobia, which she believes is fostered by the misinformation given to children. "The pediatrician [for example] needs to be teaching ... that it's OK to have sissy boys and tomboy girls," she said. "Doctors need to be taught [to recognize] their own homophobia. ... [We homosexuals are] psychologically endangered because each gay person is taught a lower self-concept."

Internalized homophobia underlies lesbians and gays avoidance of doctors, limiting access to adequate healthcare, in O'Hanlan's opinion. Studies show lesbians are particularly susceptible to avoiding routine gynecological care, not least because "ob/gyn" practices are often geared exclusively to the needs of heterosexuals. "'What's a lesbian to do?'" she asked herself when, as a medical student, she realized "I could never find any medical info about me!" Since completing her medical training with specialization in 1986, O'Hanlan has worked hard to change that 'information gap' for lesbian and gay consumers.

"Invisibilization hurts us terribly," she says, and "Doctors need to stand up against this." O'Hanlan has served as president of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association; she has also helped write and emplace domestic-partnership benefits at several medical institutions. She has contributed to lesbigay health through extraordinary community outreach, respected research, and regular scholarship. With Susan Perry, O'Hanlan co-authored the best-selling book Natural Menopause (Addison, rev. 1994).

But as an oncological gynecology specialist, O'Hanlan is especially concerned with lesbians' risk for cancer. She and co-author Christopher Crum, MD, recently reported a case study showing conclusively that HPV (genital warts) can be transmitted through lesbian sex. HPV (human papilloma virus) has been proven to cause cervical cancer. What are the main risks for lesbians? O'Hanlan says too-infrequent visits to the doctor mean that lesbians receive fewer pap smears and fewer mammographies, and when early detection is the key to a successful fight against cancer, lesbians' avoidance of routine gynecological care causes increased risk. O'Hanlan adds that "lesbians [also] appear to have a higher concentration of risk factors" for cancer, such as fewer or no pregnancies carried to term, or late child-bearing; higher average body weight, greater consumption of alcohol and more smoking, all in comparison to heterosexual women.

O'Hanlan 'walks the walk' in her personal life, as well. She is "out," open, and happy about her 11-year relationship with Léonie Walker. "The lesbian network has spread my reputation ... nationally," said O'Hanlan, whose practice is not limited to lesbian women, but whose accomplishments in the fight for equal, better healthcare for lesbians and gays have benefited lesbians across the U.S. Hence, her selection for HBHC honors.

Howard Brown itself plays a significant role making routine, lesbian-sensitive healthcare accessible in Chicago. The Women's Program will be expanded, now that HBHC has moved into its new facilities, and the planned growth has prompted HBHC to initiate a search for a new director of the Women's Program. By mid-October, candidate interviewing was underway. "The position has been upgraded to [senior management-level] director ... because the program has grown so much," said Goodwin. The outgoing Women's Program head, Mary McCauley II, resigned in September. McCauley had previously been a co-founder and executive director of the Lesbian Community Cancer Project, and recently completed work on a four-investigator Women's Health Survey begun during her tenure at LCCP.

HBHC's complete routine gynecological care will be augmented by new culposcopy equipment: culposcopies are expensive and previously available only upon referral. Comprehensive sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and treatment, and HIV testing and PWA services are available at HBHC. Parenting workshop programs and support groups will be matched with extended artificial insemination programs (currently, "unknown donor" variety). Health education and outreach programs in the community will continue. More research projects in women's health will be developed. Though founded as a "drop-in" STD center for gay men, HBHC has not been 'just for boys' for many years. The Women's Program was founded in 1993, and all told, HBHC's Women's Program at 4025 N. Sheridan promises a healthy future of "one-stop care" for women in the lesbigay community.

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