A new campaign featuring images of older lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women will help increase cancer screening rates, BreastScreen Victoria hopes.

This is a campaign celebrating the beauty and diversity of LGBTI women in Victoria.

These Photos Of Older LGBTI Women Celebrate Breaking Beauty Norms

“We’re challenging the notion that beauty is equated with youth.”

The Beautiful Women Campaign is being led by Breastscreen Victoria. The Campaign will
involve a series of photographs celebrating the beauty and diversity of LGBTI women –
taken by photographer Lisa White (thesocialphotographer.com.au).

The women in the photographs are aged from 26 to 76, but most fall into the 50 to 74 age group. Women in the latter demographic are advised to get screened every two years. Screening is not effective for women under 40.

Lisa White said the images tell stories of everyday lives and aim to build understanding across diverse communities.

“Part of my work as the social photographer is connecting with communities and merging social activism and art for change,” she said.

LBTI women are invited to share an image of a beautiful LBTI woman on social media using #beautifulwomen.

Beautiful Women exhibition

Venue: Incinerator Gallery | 180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds, 3039

Date: 21 January – 12 February | Opening 20 January 6pm–9pm

Times: Exhibition open Tues – Sun 11am–4pm

Tickets: FREE ENTRY

Information: https://midsumma.org.au/k2event/beautiful-women

A 2015 paper published in the Women’s Health Issues journal found heterosexual women were significantly more likely to conduct self-breast exams (54.4% versus 46.8%) and to have mammograms (96.8% versus 93.1%) than lesbian and bisexual women.

Lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to have never had a mammogram compared with heterosexual women (6.9% versus 3.2%) and to have never had a pap smear (4.7% versus 1.7%).

Lesbian and bisexual women are also more likely to be high-risk drinkers and heavy smokers than heterosexual women, factors which increase the risk of developing breast cancer. (breastscreen.org.au).

Coverage of Beautiful Women Campaign

1. Vanity Fair Italy (13/1/17): LGBTI: le foto delle donne per prevenire il cancro al seno (Alessia Arcolaci): http://www.vanityfair.it/news/foto/17/01/11/beautiful-lgbti-women-cancro-seno-foto
2. SBS  (13/1/17): 15 top tips for Midsumma Festival 2017 (Stephen A Russell): http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality/mardigras/article/2017/01/12/15-top-tips-midsumma-festival-2017
3. Mashable (12/1/17): Powerful portraits of LGBTQ women aim to raise breast cancer awareness: http://mashable.com/2017/01/11/lgbti-portraits-breast-cancer-screening/?utm_cid=hp-n-1#cvpmilV3XSq7
4. Buzz Feed (9/1/17): Photos of older LGBTI women celebrate breaking beauty norms (Lane Sainty): https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/beautiful-lgbti-women?utm_term=.jmyyqagLN#.hqbwKDL1E(read this article for great overview of difference between LGBTI women’s use of breast screen compared to other women)