GLMA Concerned about LGBT Health Implications of Supreme Court Ruling

In response to the US Supreme Court ruling allowing closely held corporations to deny insurance coverage of contraceptives to their employees based on religious beliefs, GLMA executive director Hector Vargas issued the following statement:
“We are disappointed at today’s troubling ruling. This decision opens the door to employers interfering with the healthcare decisions that should be between the employee and their healthcare provider. We are very worried about the potential implications this decision could have on LGBT-related healthcare, such as HIV and transgender-related care.

“Earlier this year, GLMA joined Lambda Legal and Pride at Work in submitting a friend-of-the-court brief to the Supreme Court because we know all too well how allowing personal beliefs to interfere with healthcare services can result in biased care or departure from scientifically sound standards of care, and can have disastrous effects for LGBT patients.

“The Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes the contraceptive coverage provision at issue in this case, is incredibly beneficial to the health and well-being of the LGBT community, including important non-discrimination provisions covering LGBT people. A decision, like the one today, chipping away at benefits provided by the ACA is extremely concerning.

“The attempts by the majority decision to limit the effect of its ruling are of little comfort to LGBT people and make GLMA’s educational and policy work to expand access to healthcare for LGBT people, including ensuring non-discrimination in healthcare, all the more critical.”

GLMA Early Bird Registration Closes July 15th

There is just one week left to get the best possible registration rate for GLMA's Annual Conference!  Join over 400 of your colleagues in LGBT health this September in Baltimore, MD, for GLMA’s 32nd Annual Conference.  Register NOW!

GLMA’s Annual Conference is the premier LGBT health conference and the world’s largest scientific gathering devoted to LGBT health issues and concerns.

GLMA’s Annual Conference educates practitioners and students—from across the health professions—about the unique health needs of LGBT individuals and families. The conference is a forum for discussion and exploration of how best to address these needs as well as the needs of LGBT health professionals and health profession students. GLMA’s Annual Conference also reports on research into the health needs of LGBT people.

GLMA members receive a discount on registration!  Join NOW!

Annual Conference registration includes:

• 19 Credit Hours of Educational Programming (workshop, poster and plenary sessions)
• Exhibit Hall Access
• Conference Bag and Materials
• Receptions
• Continental Breakfasts
• Membership Luncheon (members and registered guests of members only)

Tickets to additional special events such as the Annual Gala Banquet and Lunch & Learns are also available through the main registration system.
Registration for the pre-conference GLMA Nursing Summit on September 10th is also available!  To learn more about the GLMA Nursing Summit, click here.

For more information on registration rates and how to register, please click here. For more information about GLMA’s 32nd Annual Conference, including travel information and discounts, reduced rate for the conference hotel and much, much more, please click here!

GLMA LGBT Health Digest

July 11, 2014
Table of Contents

Early Bird Registration Ends Tuesday, July 15th

Supreme Court Decision Worries LGBT Community
NCLR Launches #BornPerfect: The Campaign to End Conversion Therapy

Washington State Ends Discriminatory Transgender Health Insurance Policies

New Bisexual Research Collaborative on Health Formed
California’s Ban on Conversion Therapy Stands After Supreme Court Declined Case

Article: Improving Nursing Care for Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Women

Resource: Start Talking. Stop HIV

Event: LGBT Health Forum on Global LGBT Health & Rights

Webinar: The Foundations of Culturally Appropriate Integrated Services for LGBT Individuals
Webinars: Post-DOMA Federal Changes

Early Bird Registration Ends Tuesday, July 15th GLMA’s 32nd Annual Conference
September 10-13, 2014
Baltimore, MD

Join over 400 of your colleagues in LGBT health this September in Baltimore, MD, for GLMA’s 32nd Annual Conference! GLMA’s Annual Conference is the premier LGBT health conference and the world’s largest scientific gathering devoted to LGBT health issues and concerns. GLMA’s Annual Conference educates practitioners and students—from across the health professions—about the unique health needs of LGBT individuals and families.

Early bird registration ends Tuesday, July 15th! Click here to learn more and register for the conference.

Reminder: GLMA members receive a discount on registration! Become a member today!

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Supreme Court Decision Worries LGBT Community
This June 30, 2014, Advocate piece explores the potential impact of the US Supreme Court decision in Sebelius v Hobby Lobby on the LGBT community. The court ruled 5-4 that closely held corporations can deny insurance coverage of contraceptives to their employees on the basis of religious beliefs. As the article notes, although the justices stated this ruling was specific to the contraceptive coverage component in the Affordable Care Act, LGBT advocates are concerned about the potential implications this decision could have on LGBT-related healthcare, such as HIV and transgender-related care.

GLMA joined Lambda Legal and Pride at Work in submitting a friend-of-the-court brief in the case earlier this year and released a statement in response to the ruling last week.
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NCLR Launches #BornPerfect: The Campaign to End Conversion Therapy
As reported in this June 23, 2014, Time article, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) launched a new campaign called #BornPerfect aimed at passing laws across the US to protect LGBT youth, fighting in courtrooms to ensure their safety and raising awareness about the serious harms caused by conversation therapy.

GLMA is a supporter of the NCLR campaign. Click here to read more about #BornPerfect and how to get involved.

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Washington State Ends Discriminatory Transgender Health Insurance Policies
As reported in the Advocate on June 26, 2014, the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner issued a clarification that all health insurance policies (public and private) must cover transition-related care, and cannot discriminate against transgender residents of Washington. Danielle Askini, a member of the Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare and advocacy director of the Gender Justice League, said, "Removing these outdated exclusions brings Washington up to date with the latest information from medical experts and will provide transgender Washingtonians with access to lifesaving and medically necessary healthcare.”

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New Bisexual Research Collaborative on Health Formed According to the Rainbow Times on July 2, 2014, this June, leaders in bisexual health research and community activists gathered to discuss the state of the research on bisexual health. The meeting was hosted by the Fenway Institute and was co-chaired by Judith Bradford, PhD, who was also a committee member for the 2011 Institute of Medicine report on LGBT health. The Bisexual Research Collaborative on Health (BiRCH) was formed at the meeting and will foster high-level discussions of bisexual health research, host a national conference and seek to advance public awareness of bisexual health issues.

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California’s Ban on Conversion Therapy Stands After Supreme Court Declined Case According to this June 30, 2014, New York Times article, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a California law that bans conversion therapy aimed at changing the sexual orientation of LGB minors. By not taking up the case, the federal appeals court ruling that the state’s ban does not violate free speech rights stands. In a letter to the editor in response to this article, the Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda notes there was a bipartisan-supported bill in the New York Assembly and the Senate that would have enacted similar legislation to that of California’s, as well as New Jersey’s. However, the Senate leadership refused to allow a vote on the bill.

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Article: Improving Nursing Care for Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Women Healthcare needs of lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women are inadequately addressed in nursing education and practice, which may contribute to heterosexism and homophobia on the part of healthcare providers. Nurses have an obligation to use available tools and resources to assess and positively transform healthcare environments to ensure high-quality care for LBT women. The context within which care for LBT women is learned, practiced and experienced requires radical improvement. This article was published in the recent issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing and is available here.

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Resource: Start Talking. Stop HIV Start Talking. Stop HIV., a new phase of CDC’s Act Against AIDS initiative, seeks to reduce new HIV infections among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men by encouraging open discussion about a range of HIV prevention strategies and related sexual health issues between sex partners. Effective partner communication about HIV can reduce HIV transmission by supporting HIV testing, HIV status disclosure, condom use and the use of medicines to prevent and treat HIV. Created by and for gay and bisexual men, this new national HIV prevention campaign has a number of resources available online here.

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Event: LGBT Health Forum on Global LGBT Health & Rights July 15, 2014
7:00pm
Washington, DC

The 2nd annual LGBT Health Forum on Global LGBT Health & Rights will be held at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, Tuesday July 15th at 7:00 pm. The event is open to the public and will be webcast live worldwide. The Forum showcases current health issues for the LGBT community, this year examining the struggles of LGBT populations worldwide including ongoing persecution and violence against LGBT people and their care providers, HIV/AIDS and access to health services. Speakers include: Dr. Nils Daulaire, former assistant secretary for Global Affairs at HHS, Julie Dorf with the Council for Global Equality, Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Jack Andraka, a high school student who at age 15 developed a simple screening test for detecting several types of cancer. For more information, click here.

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Webinar: The Foundations of Culturally Appropriate Integrated Services for LGBT Individuals July 16, 2014
2:00-3:30pm EST

Integrated primary care and behavioral health providers can create culturally appropriate, highly accessible integrated care to members of the LGBT community with behavioral health conditions. Join CIHS and the CDC National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco & Cancer Control to discuss ways to evaluate current organizational barriers to accessing care, strategies for reducing these barriers and actionable steps for implementing culturally appropriate services. Review how to internally evaluate your agency’s services, and leave with an understanding of best practices and resources to increase engagement efforts with the LGBT community. Presenters: Andrea Washington, LCSW-S, SUD and Integrated Care Coordinator, Montrose Center; Dr. Scout, Director, Network for LGBT Health Equity at CenterLink; and National LGBT Health Education Center, The Fenway Institute. Click here to register.

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Resource: Webinars: Post-DOMA Federal Changes A year after the Supreme Court decision in United States v Windsor, federal agencies have been issuing rules that affect same sex couples regarding programs like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare and Medicaid. In this two-part webinar series, you will learn what’s happened since the decision and what’s still needed to ensure the rights of LGBT same sex couples are fully recognized by the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Social Security and SSI Post-DOMA: Changes for Same Gender Couples?
July 22, 2014
2:00pm EST
Presenter: Gerald McIntyre, NSCLC Directing Attorney

Medicare & Medicaid Post-DOMA: Changes for Same Gender Couples?July 23, 2014
2:00pm EST
Presenters: Georgia Burke, NSCLC Directing Attorney

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GLMA’s LGBT Health Digest is an electronic newsletter with information and resources for health professionals concerned about the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations.

The Digest highlights issues, events, publications and other newsworthy items pertinent to LGBT health. Please feel free to circulate the Digest to your colleagues.

To sign up, send your request to digest@glma.org. Also, to submit an item to be considered for publication in the Digest, please send your request to Emily Kane-Lee at ekanelee@glma.org

New LGBT Policies Adopted by the AMA

In GLMA’s second year participating as a voting Delegate in the American Medical Association (AMA) Annual Meeting, the AMA addressed a handful of important issues related to LGBT health.

GLMA was capably represented by board members Brian Hurley, who serves as GLMA’s Delegate, and Jeremy Toler, Alternate Delegate, who worked closely with the AMA’s LGBT Advisory Committee and other allies for LGBT health to ensure the needs of the LGBT community are represented in advocacy and discussion during meeting and policy discussions.

The LGBT health policies adopted by the AMA include:

• Birth Certificate Policies for the Transgender Community: In addition to reaffirming its policy supporting changes on birth certificates on verification by a healthcare provider that an individual is undergoing gender transition, the AMA adopted two additional policies related to transgender health and birth certificates. First, the AMA now opposes any requirement that an individual undergo gender affirming surgery in order to change a birth certificate. Second, the AMA adopted a policy that an individual’s gender marker on a birth certificate not be a barrier to appropriate healthcare for that individual.
• Support for Decriminalization of HIV: The AMA also addressed an important issue related to people living with HIV, calling for laws to be consistent with current medical and scientific knowledge about HIV, including avoiding criminalization of HIV status.
• Leadership of Patient-Centered Medical Homes: The AMA also adopted a policy that patient-centered medical homes be led only by physicians. GLMA voted against this measure in the House of Delegates. As a multidisciplinary organization, GLMA strongly believes all health professionals, regardless of discipline, have important roles to play in advancing the health of LGBT people.

In addition to these policies, as reported previously, the AMA House of Delegates elected GLMA member Jesse Ehrenfeld to the AMA Board of Trustees, making Jesse the first openly gay member to serve as an AMA Trustee. In addition to Jesse’s candidacy, GLMA actively supported several LGBT allies for election to AMA leadership positions.

The LGBT health policies adopted by the AMA will be added to GLMA’s Compendium of Health Profession Association LGBT Policy & Position Statements, a multidisciplinary index of LGBT-related policies adopted by health profession associations. If you have additions for this resource from associations across the health professions, please send them to us for inclusion.

GLMA’s work with the AMA is just one example of how GLMA’s relationships with other health profession associations can have a significant impact on LGBT health. We look forward to continuing to build relationships with associations representing all disciplines to help shape and influence policy initiatives that improve the health and well-being of the LGBT community.

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.

Breaking News: Exclusion on transgender care in Medicare lifted!

May 30, in a much anticipated ruling, an HHS appeals panel lifted the Medicare program’s exclusions for the treatment of transgender people. The ruling represents a significant victory for the principle that treatment for gender dysphoria, including hormone therapy and transition-related surgery, is medically necessary.

GLMA congratulates our colleagues at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, ACLU and Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders who brought about this change in policy, which will enable transgender people covered under Medicare to receive the healthcare they need and deserve.

The National Center for Transgender Equality has issued a fact sheet on the ruling and what it means for transgender individuals.

GLMA pledges to continue its work to ensure that health policy affecting LGBT people is based in science and to work with HHS and our partners to provide the expertise of our health professional members as a resource in advocacy efforts.  Published by GLMA.

GLMA LGBT Health Digest Update

Teaching DO Students LGBT Health
In this May 1, 2014, article in The DO, the author outlines common concerns faced by LGBT patients when accessing healthcare, including seeing a healthcare provider who is not aware of or comfortable with LGBT-specific health issues. The article notes the lack of LGBT health education providers receive. “There are too few health professionals who are trained in LGBT healthcare. And you cannot rely on physicians and medical students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender themselves to deliver all that care,” says Henry Ng, MD, MPH, clinical director of LGBT health services at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland and President of GLMA. Sean Tai, DO student and recipient of the AMSA/GLMA Achievement Award, notes that sexual orientation and sexual practices fall under the osteopathic principal of treating the whole patient.

Henry Ng, MD, MPH, is the President of GLMA.
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Ongoing LGBT Health Disparities Addressed by Affordable Care Act
This April 2014 AAMC Reporter post details the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for LGBT people, including increased access to insurance, provisions prioritizing cultural competence standards and training to improve LGBT health outcome and increased data collection. Additionally, the ACA has shifted more attention to how healthcare policy may contribute to negative health outcomes for LGBT people, notes Henry Ng, MD, MPH.

Henry Ng, MD, MPH, is the President of GLMA.


Trans Bodies, Tran Selves to Be Released Soon
As described in this May 1, 2014, Washington Post article, a new resource for transgender people is soon to be released. With 672 pages and “encyclopedic in scope,” Trans Bodies, Trans Selves is positioned to be the go-to resource for topics from health and law to history and politics. Reflecting on the book’s predecessor for women, Our Bodies, Ourselves, editor, Laura Erickson-Schroth, “At a time when over 90 percent of physicians were men ... it was an extremely daring and exciting thing to publish a book in which women taught other women about their bodies, their sexuality and their rights.” As the article notes, the goal of the book is to empower transgender people and provide them with a wealth of information about their lives.

Laura Erickson-Schroth is a Member of GLMA’s Board of Directors.


Defense Secretary Indicates Military Should Review Ban on Transgender Service As reported by ABC News on May 11, 2014, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has indicated the ban on transgender individuals serving in the US military "continually should be reviewed,” although not going so far as to indicate whether he believes the policy should be overturned. Hagel also said, "Every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it."

HHS Expected to Lift Medicare Ban on Gender-Affirming Surgery According to this May 8, 2014, Advocate article, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is expected to lift Medicare’s 1981 ban on gender-affirming surgeries, which claims the surgeries are “experimental” and denies any and all requests for coverage. Advocates argue the 33 year old ban is based on outdated science, which was reviewed by independent HHS panel formed last year.

Resource: SIECUS Releases New Edition of the State Profiles For ten years, SIECUS has “followed the money” to provide educators, advocates and policymakers with an annual snapshot of how federal funding is impacting sexual health education across the country. For the first time, the newly released publication, SIECUS State Profiles: A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States, Fiscal Year 2012 Edition, also includes a State Profile At A Glance for each state, providing an overview of adolescent sexual health education state policies, data and federal funding. Click here to access the publication.


Resource: LGBTQ Organizations Release Intimate Partner Violence Community Action Toolkits The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) in association with GLAAD, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the Gay and Lesbian Taskforce and Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) announce the release of two community action toolkits that provide LGBTQ communities, survivors of intimate partner violence and advocates working on their behalf, resources to address intimate partner violence on the individual and community level. The toolkits are focused specifically on intimate partner violence in transgender and people of color communities and highlight the adverse impact of intimate partner violence on transgender individuals and LGBTQ people of color. Click here to learn more.

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Conference: 5th Annual Infectious Diseases Update Friday, June 13, 2014
1:00pm – 5:00pm
New York City, NY

This half-day course consists of five lectures by leading experts from the fields of infectious diseases. There will be ample time for audience participation and opportunities to engage the speakers in dialogue about current controversies in HIV management. This Weill Cornell CME activity is designed to lead to improved patient care. The program will strive to: Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used first line antiretroviral regimens, discuss three new technologies available in the clinical microbiology laboratory, review the epidemiology and diagnostic approach to malaria, summarize the approach to managing HCV infection in 2014 and three teaching points related to outpatient infectious disease cases. To register and learn more, click here.
GLMA’s LGBT Health Digest is an electronic newsletter with information and resources for health professionals concerned about the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations.

The Digest highlights issues, events, publications and other newsworthy items pertinent to LGBT health. Please feel free to circulate the Digest to your colleagues.

To sign up, send your request to digest@glma.org. Also, to submit an item to be considered for publication in the Digest, please send your request to Emily Kane-Lee at ekanelee@glma.org

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.

Queer in the Clinic: Special issue of the Journal of Medical Humanities

Posted at GLMA, reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

This special issue of the Journal of Medical Humanities, themed “Queer in the Clinic,” is concerned with the voices and perspectives of LGBTQ persons in the medical sphere (past, present and future)—the dilemmas they face in the clinic; the influences that sexuality and gender identity have on a person’s patient-hood; and the factors that create distinctively queer perspectives on medicine. Scholars in the medical humanities, bioethics and queer studies have provided a robust collection of articles, essays, editorials and creative contributions. 

Hector Vargas on Supreme Court Rulings

Note from Hecor Vargas, Executive Director GLMA , reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

In two separate rulings today, the US Supreme Court opened the doors for legally married same-sex couples to be treated equally under federal law and re-opened the doors for loving and committed same-sex couples in California to marry.

GLMA joins with the entire LGBT community in celebration of equality and renews our commitment to ensure that every same-sex couple in this country, regardless of where they live, will one day enjoy the freedom to marry.

I was lucky enough to be in the courtroom today as these decisions were released, and I couldn’t help but feel strong pulls of joy and pride as Justice Anthony Kennedy read from his opinion overturning DOMA (the so-called Defense of Marriage Act), speaking about the dignity of same-sex couples and their children and the very real harms DOMA inflicted on them. Justice Kennedy wrote that DOMA “undermines both the public and private significance of state-sanctioned same-sex marriages; for it tells these couples, and all the world, that otherwise valid marriages are unworthy of federal recognition.”

In his opinion, Justice Kennedy alluded to the social stability that marriage affords and also noted how—in very tangible terms—the law prevented married couples from receiving federal healthcare benefits and raised the cost of healthcare for families by taxing health benefits employers provided to same-sex spouses of employees.

In addition to overturning DOMA, the Supreme Court let stand a federal district court ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional allowing marriage of same-sex couples to resume in the state of California.

I’m proud of the hard work of the many LGBT people and organizations across the country who made this possible —especially the ACLU and the American Foundation for Equal Rights, who brought the cases decided today. I’m also proud of the role that each of you, as GLMA members, played in this historic victory.

Through GLMA’s friend-of-the-court briefs, submitted to the Supreme Court in March, we provided your expertise as health professionals to the nation’s highest court and joined a chorus of organizations and individuals in support of marriage equality.

Through these briefs, GLMA stood up for LGBT equality and the freedom to marry as critical issues that affect the health and well-being of LGBT people and their families.

While we celebrate this victory today, you and I both know there is still much work to be done. The repeal of DOMA and marriage equality will play a significant role in helping to strengthen our community, but it is not a silver bullet.

With renewed spirit from this victory, GLMA will continue our quest for LGBT health equality. Our work encompasses the philosophy that not only is LGBT health a civil rights issue, but also that issues of LGBT equality, such as marriage, have a significant impact on LGBT health.

Your support has helped us reach this pivotal moment in the movement for LGBT equality, and so I thank you and look forward to continuing our work together to achieve our goal of healthcare equality for LGBT people.

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,

GLMA Conference Program and Webinar

This summer, GLMA continues our commitment to increasing cultural competence in healthcare through professional education:

The preliminary program for GLMA’s 31st Annual Conference is now available! GLMA’s Annual Conference (September 18-21, 2013) is the premier scientific meeting on LGBT health, attended by over 400 health professionals from across the country (and around the world). Click here to register and download the preliminary program.

• Save-the-Date for Part 3 of our four-part Webinar Series: Quality Healthcare for LGBT People. Part 3: Clinical Skills for the Care of Transgender Individuals will take place on July 11, 2013, from 3:00 – 4:30pm (EST).

GLMA members provide the expertise that makes our professional education effective, and the support that makes this work possible.

If you are not a member, join GLMA today! Your membership allows us to provide programs like the cultural competence webinar series and the Annual Conference, which are vital to improving the health and well-being of the LGBT community. GLMA Members not only support our work, but receive benefits, like a discount on registration!

If you are a member, consider making an additional contribution to support these and other critical GLMA efforts. You can also make a donation to the student scholarship fund when you register for the conference.

This is an exciting time for GLMA and LGBT health, and we hope you will join us and be a part of it all!
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.

GLMA 31st Annual Conference Sept. 18-21, 2013

Registration is now OPEN! Join us—and over 400 of your colleagues—this September in Denver, CO, as we discuss the unique health needs of LGBT patients and explore best practices in addressing these needs as well as the needs of LGBT health professionals and health profession students. GLMA’s Annual Conference is the premier LGBT health conference and the world’s largest scientific gathering devoted to LGBT health issues and concerns. GLMA’s Annual Conference also provides a critical forum for the presentation of research into the health needs of LGBT people. Click here to register now! Annual Conference registration includes: • 20.5 Credit Hours* of Educational Programming (workshop, poster and plenary sessions) • Exhibit Hall Access • Conference Bag and Materials • Receptions • Continental Breakfasts • Membership Luncheon (members and registered guests of members only) Tickets to additional special events such as the Annual Gala Banquet and networking lunches are also available through the main registration system. Guests and partners are welcome at the Annual Conference!  GLMA Nursing Summit The GLMA Nursing Summit—a pre-conference, day-long summit—will take place the day before the main conference programming for the GLMA Annual Conference. The GLMA Nursing Summit will bring together LGBT and ally nurses to develop an action plan to improve critical LGBT issues in the nursing profession. Click here to learn more about this exciting event! For more information about GLMA’s 31st Annual Conference, including travel information and discounts, reduced rate for the conference hotel and much, much more, please click here!  While you are there, be sure to check out the welcome video from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock! Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

GLMA Health Digest Jan. 9, 2013

January 9, 2013 Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

Table of Contents

Mexico Removes Ban on Blood Donations by Gay and Bisexual Men

Federal Judge Ordered Alabama to Stop Segregating Prisoners Living with HIV

Call for Abstracts: GLMA’s 31st Annual Conference

Call for Papers: Journal of Environmental and Public Health

Call for Manuscripts for Literature Review

Event: Save-the-Date for GLMA in Los Angeles

Event: LGBT Inaugural Celebration of Barack Obama & Joe Biden

Survey of LGBT Student Experiences at Academic Medical Centers


Mexico Removes Ban on Blood Donations by Gay and Bisexual Men
According to the Advocate on December 28, 2012, a procedural change in Mexico went into effect on December 25th, which lifts the country’s two-decade old ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men. The new policy instead bans donations from people with HIV or hepatitis and their partners—regardless of sexual orientation—who engage in “risky” sexual practices.

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Federal Judge Ordered Alabama to Stop Segregating Prisoners Living with HIV
According to Fox News on December 21, 2012, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction ordering Alabama to stop segregating prisoners living with HIV, a practice that violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The injunction ordered the Alabama Department of Corrections to end its discriminatory practices against prisoners living with HIV, including housing them separately from all other prisoners, excluding them from work-release jobs in the food industry, and a number of other rehabilitative, educational, trade skills and vocational programs. "Today's decision is historic. It spells an end to a segregation policy that has inflicted needless misery on Alabama prisoners with HIV and their families," said Margaret Winter, associate director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project and lead counsel for the plaintiffs.

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Call for Abstracts: GLMA’s 31st Annual Conference
GLMA invites you to be a part of the premier LGBT health conference by submitting an abstract for this year’s Annual Conference in Denver, CO (Sept 18-21, 2013). GLMA’s Annual Conference educates health professionals and health profession students about the unique health needs of LGBT patients. The conference is a forum for discussion and exploration of how best to address these needs as well as the needs of LGBT health professionals and health profession students.

This year’s conference will place a special emphasis on the role of health professionals in promoting positive, healthy LGBT communities. GLMA encourages the submission of abstracts that explore avenues for optimizing health through effective social supports and wellness, maintaining and improving function and reducing disparities in LGBT communities.

For more on GLMA’s 31st Annual Conference and how to submit an abstract, please click here. Abstracts are due by March 11, 2013.

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Call for Papers: Journal of Environmental and Public Health
We have a need to publish data relevant to the sexual and gender minority population and the Journal of Environmental and Public Health has issued a special issue on sexual and gender minority health. Manuscripts for this Special Section are due January 25, 2013. Contact Dr. McElroy, lead guest editor, with any questions. For more information on the Call for Papers, please click here.

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Call for Manuscripts for Literature Review
Seeking unpublished manuscripts, in press articles and data reports about weight-related issues among lesbian and bisexual women for a comprehensive review of the literature funded by the Office on Women's Health. We are a collective of five projects nation-wide developing and testing interventions to improve health among lesbian and bisexual women who are at risk for weight-related health problems and would like to be in touch with anyone doing this type of research. Please contact Mickey Eliason if you are interested.

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Event: Save-the-Date for GLMA in Los Angeles
Join GLMA members in Southern California for a reception to support LGBT health equality! The reception will take place the evening of Saturday, February 2, 2013, in Los Angeles, CA. Click here for more information!

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Event: LGBT Inaugural Celebration of Barack Obama & Joe Biden
Building on the tradition begun in 1993, the LGBT community celebrates the Inauguration. Join the HRC and many community sponsors for this historic evening celebrating the Inauguration and the successes around the nation. The event will include live musical performances, celebrity guests, dancing, cocktail buffet and premium open bar.

Monday, January 21, 2013
8:00pm - 1:00am
The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel
Washington, DC 20036

Tickets: $375
To purchase tickets, click here or call Box office Tickets at (800) 494-8497.

GLMA is proud to be a community sponsor of this event.

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Survey of LGBT Student Experiences at Academic Medical Centers
The Vanderbilt Program for LGBTI Health is conducting an anonymous survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) experiences of students at academic medical centers. Specifically, we are interested in the experience of bias, discrimination and/or harassment due to sexual orientation and gender identity. Survey participation is completely voluntary and anonymous, and survey participation will imply informed consent.

The survey includes questions assessing instances of discrimination/harassment of LGBT individuals at your medical center and the level of support available for LGBT students and employees. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and participation in the survey is voluntary. The survey is confidential and responses will be stored in a secure database with access restricted to Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, Kristen Eckstrand and Minoo Sarkarati. Click here to complete the survey. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the study PI Minoo Sarkarati.

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GLMA’s LGBT Health Digest is an electronic newsletter with information and resources for health professionals concerned about the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations.

The Digest highlights issues, events, publications and other newsworthy items pertinent to LGBT health. Please feel free to circulate the Digest to your colleagues.

To sign up, send your request to digest@glma.org. Also, to submit an item to be considered for publication in the Digest, please send your request to Emily Kane-Lee at ekanelee@glma.org