First Openly Gay Trustee of the AMA Elected

Hector Vargas, GLMA Executive Director, issued the following statement on Jesse Ehrenfeld’s election to the AMA Board of Trustees:

GLMA is proud to announce one of our members, Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, has become the first openly gay Trustee of the American Medical Association (AMA). On June 10, 2014, the AMA House of Delegates elected Jesse to serve on the Board of Trustees, joining a handful of other health professional associations to include out LGBT individuals in positions of leadership.

Last June, GLMA became the first and only LGBT organization to have a voting seat in the AMA House of Delegates, signaling a major shift to advance understanding of LGBT healthcare needs and promote equality.

As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month, I am moved by the fact that Jesse’s inclusion in the leadership of the largest physician group in the US will continue to advance LGBT health equality. AMA policies have significant influence on public policy efforts in the US and the inclusion of an openly gay health professional voice among AMA leadership will have far reaching implications for LGBT patients and health professionals across the country.

Additionally, Jesse’s service on the AMA Board of Trustees provides a much-needed role model to LGBT health professionals, students and trainees. As GLMA members—from all professions—are well aware, being an out LGBT health professional is not always easy. Like those who have served before him in positions of leadership with other health professional associations, Jesse will not only provide an LGBT voice on the AMA Board of Trustees, but also serve as a role model to LGBT health professionals and students across the nation.

GLMA looks forward to continuing our work with Jesse and others within the AMA and across all health professional associations to address the health needs facing the LGBT community.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: GLMA Delegate to House of Delegates

Reposted at  http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

GLMA is currently requesting applications from members to serve as the GLMA Delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates (HOD), the principal policy-making body for the AMA. The Delegate will also serve on the GLMA Board of Directors, if not already serving on the Board.

The Delegate must:

• Be a member in good standing with the AMA and GLMA;
• Be able to travel and participate in two multi-day AMA House of Delegates meetings annually;
• Be able to travel and participate in, at a minimum, two of the quarterly 2-day GLMA Board Meetings annually;
• Have experience with and thorough understanding of the American Medical Association and its structure and processes, including the House of Delegates; and
• Possess familiarity with GLMA and LGBT health issues.

The duties of the GLMA Delegate to the AMA HOD include:
Representing GLMA in and voting on issues before the AMA House of Delegates;

• Advocating for health issues and policies that affect LGBT people and GLMA as an organization in the AMA HOD;
• Fulfilling the duties of an AMA Delegate as outlined by the AMA;
• Serving as a Director on GLMA’s Board and meeting the requirements and responsibilities of a GLMA Board Member; and
• Maintaining a dynamic dialogue with the GLMA President, Executive Director and other Board Members, as necessary, on issues and policies affecting LGBT people presented to the AMA HOD.

If you are interested in the position, please apply using Survey Monkey AND email your current CV to bdc@glma.org by July 31, 2013. Finalists will be interviewed by Members of the GLMA Board of Directors, which is responsible for selecting the GLMA Delegate.

The newly selected GLMA Delegate to the AMA HOD will be expected to attend and participate in the next HOD meeting, scheduled for Nov 16-19, 2013 in the Washington, DC area.

Any questions can be directed to Henry Ng, MD, GLMA President-Elect and Chair of the GLMA Board Development Committee at bdc@glma.org.

Background: In June 2013, the AMA voted GLMA into its House of Delegates. GLMA is the first and only LGBT organization in the House of Delegates, signaling a major shift to advance understanding LGBT healthcare needs and promote equality. With this historic vote, GLMA has a significant opportunity to increase our efforts to improve the health and well-being of LGBT individuals by leveraging the strength and influence of the AMA to build greater understanding about the health issues faced by the LGBT community.

LGBT-related policies the AMA HOD passed this week

Letter from GLMA executive Director, Hector Vargas, reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com, On Monday, GLMA President Desi Bailey and I shared the exciting news that GLMA was voted into the AMA House of Delegates (HOD). I wanted to take this opportunity to follow-up with you to share some of the LGBT-related policies the AMA HOD passed this week: Conforming Birth Certificate Policies to Current Medical Standards for Transgender Patients: Supports policies that birth certificate changes for transgender individuals can be accomplished through a physician’s verification that a person has undergone gender transition according to applicable medical standards. This policy will help lift significant barriers, including requirements for surgery that exist in many states, transgender people face in trying to change the gender marker on a birth certificate. Revised Blood Donor Deferral Criteria: Supports the elimination of the lifetime ban on blood donation by men who have sex with men (MSM). The AMA policy supports “rational, scientifically-based” policies on blood and tissue donation. Early Treatment and Partner Services for HIV: Supports physician education of “treatment as prevention,” including early treatment of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV, as a means to help end the spread of HIV. Discrimination Against Patients by Medical Students: Ensures medical students may not refuse to participate in the care of a patient based on several factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Confidential Care for Minors: Allows physicians to provide care to youth for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases absent of parental knowledge or consent. The policy is of significant importance to LGBT youth, who may not be out to their parents or family. The AMA’s Code of Ethics already supports confidential care in relation to treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. GLMA actively worked with the AMA’s GLBT Advisory Committee to support these policies, and I want to take this opportunity to thank the committee members for their leadership and cooperation. We look forward to a continued strong partnership together. GLMA’s work at the AMA Annual Meeting this past week is just one example of how GLMA’s relationships with other health professional associations can have a significant impact on LGBT health. Because of our longstanding relationship with the LBGT PA Caucus, earlier this month, GLMA President-Elect Henry Ng and I were invited guests at the Annual Conference of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, which has adopted a number of policies supporting LGBT health. GLMA is also developing and strengthening relationships with a number of nursing associations through the development of this September’s GLMA Nursing Summit, designed to develop a roadmap for nursing on LGBT health. As we begin a new chapter in our relationship with the AMA, GLMA looks forward to continuing to strengthen our relationships with other health professional associations to ensure that LGBT health issues are being addressed by all health professionals. We are proud of our multidisciplinary membership and have a deep understanding of the vital role associations from across the health professions play in improving the health and well-being of LGBT individuals. Thank you for your continued support of our work.

Yours in Equality,         Hector Vargas, JD  Executive Director

GLAMA Accepted into AMA House of Delegates

It is our pleasure to share with you the news that today, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates voted to accept GLMA into its membership. This is an exciting accomplishment that signals greater understanding and recognition within the mainstream healthcare community about the LGBT community’s unique healthcare needs. This is a moment to celebrate together. As with all of GLMA’s accomplishments, our members have made this possible. Numerous efforts of GLMA members past and present have helped GLMA develop strong ties to the AMA, especially the AMA GLBT Advisory Committee—which has included members of GLMA’s leadership since its inception in 2005. Additionally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our members who are also members of the AMA, whose membership in both organizations helped us meet a key requirement to joining the AMA House of Delegates. This is a shared victory! Joining the AMA House of Delegates provides GLMA with an opportunity to share the expertise of our members with the largest physician group in America to inform the development of policies around LGBT health. Yesterday, GLMA provided testimony to the AMA in support of several such resolutions that are important to LGBT people and people living with HIV. It is our hope that by joining the AMA House of Delegates and taking advantage of opportunities like this, we will be able to leverage the strength of the AMA’s support and influence to improve the health and well-being of LGBT people. With your continued support, we will maximize our seat in the House of Delegates and diligently work towards LGBT healthcare equality.
In Equality, Desi Bailey, MD President	Hector Vargas , JD Executive Director
P.S. GLMA is only as strong as our membership. Your membership and contributions are invaluable to advance GLMA’s mission and sustain progress towards LGBT health equality. If you are not a member or your membership has lapsed, please join or renew your membership today. If you are already a member, give a tax-deductible donation to continue our momentum towards LGBT health equality. Letter reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

ACT NOW: Support Policies on Change of Birth Certificates for Transgender Individuals

During its meeting in June, the American Medical Association House of Delegates will consider two different resolutions that the AMA “support policies that allow for a change of sex designation on birth certificates for transgender individuals based on verification” of a healthcare provider that an individual has undergone gender transition according to “applicable medical standards of care.” The vast majority of states require proof of sex reassignment surgery or sterilization for birth certificate changes, which is a significant barrier for transgender people and contrary to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care.

GLMA President Desi Bailey will be attending the AMA Annual Meeting and will lend GLMA’s support to these resolutions along with allies and supportive colleagues within the AMA, including the AMA’s GLBT Advisory Committee.

If you are a member of the AMA, please consider posting online testimony in support of these resolutions. Log in to the AMA website and look for "Res 004-Conforming Birth Certificate Policies to Current Medical Standards for Transgender Patients" and "Res 005-Conforming Birth Certificate Policies to Current Medical Standards for Transgender Patients," which are part of Virtual Reference Committee CCB. Be sure to include that:

1. As an AMA and GLMA member, you support Resolutions 004 and 005;
2. An accurate birth certificate is a matter of life and health for transgender people; and
3. The prevailing and widely recognized Standards of Care for transgender people, published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, recognize that sex reassignment surgery or sterilization should not be required to change a person’s sex designation on a birth certificate.

The deadline for posting testimony is June 2.

You can also show your support by liking and sharing GLMA’s post on this topic on Facebook.

Thank you for your action to support the health and well-being of the LGBT community!

PS – If you are also attending the AMA Annual Meeting or will be in Chicago on June 15, please join us for a GLMA in Chicago reception.