American Medical Association Announces its Support for Same-Sex Marriage

The AMA passed a resolution supporting same-sex marriage. Here is the wording:
Our American Medical Association: (1) recognizes that denying civil marriage based on sexual orientation is discriminatory and imposes harmful stigma on gay and lesbian individuals and couples and their families; (2) recognizes that exclusion from civil marriage contributes to health care disparities affecting same-sex households; (3) will work to reduce health care disparities among members of same-sex households including minor children; and (4) will support measures providing same-sex households with the same rights and privileges to health care, health insurance, and survivor benefits, as afforded opposite-sex households.

This was adopted June 20, 2011

NY Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

On Friday June 24th, New York State Senate Passed a Same-Sex Marriage Bill to be enacted within 30 days throughout the state. This marks the largest and most populous state to pass a same-sex marriage law and may indicate a soon sweeping change across many other areas of the country. The ability to repeal this law by vote is extremely difficult to do, so it looks like this one will be staying on the books! http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/same-sex-marriage-celebrations/

People across the country and even the world celebrated over the weekend and continue to celebrate!

Female Condom Use Survey

If you have a few minutes fill out this Female Condom Use Survey:

http://svy.mk/mhgMAu

UN Passes Gay Rights Protection

The UN passed a historic measure that endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian, and transgender people. It called for universal protections and a future discussion about mandating anti-violence and anti-discrimination. This resolution is the first of its kind and the most wide-sweeping worldwide protection for all LGBT persons throughout the world. People throughout the world celebrate this historic victory!

Sebelius Annouces that HHS will collect LGBT data

In response to the report published by the Institute of Medicine, HHS Secretary K. Sebelius announced that the HHS will collect LGBT data. This data will work towards LGBT persons gaining better access to care by providing a broad brush stroke of our health disparities and needs. The data collected will be given to physicians to improve their treatment methods and focus when encountering an LGBT person at their practice. Finding out more information is key to changing medical and public health practices.

The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People

The Institute of Medicine recently came out with a report outlining the need for more research into LGBT health issues and concerns. They recommend that sexual orientation and gender identity be included in demographic information collected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase available data for practitioners. Please click on the link for a briefing on the report:

http://www.fenwayhealth.org/site/DocServer/lgbthealthreportbriefembargoed.pdf?docID=8321