Medpedia

I am blogging this morning from the Gay Lesbian Medical Association meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference has been one of the most well attended in several years and has been a great opportunity to hear about federal updates on LGBT health and the 2011 Institite of Medicine report on LGBT health, progress on the Freedom to Marry, and gaps and opportunities in health provider education training on LGBT health issues. Later this weekend there will be a special joint session between GLMA and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. this is a particularly exciting joint venture as there will be shared updates to the Standards of Care (SOC)7th edition.

These events occurred this week when we witnessed the historic repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and its discriminitory effects on LGBT military personnel and veterans. Now many parts of the US government including systems for caring for LGBT military personnel, veterans and their families will need to adapt their access and services to better include LGBT people.

Progress continues in LGBT civil rights and health initiatives, but our optimism is tempered by ongoing assaults on LGBT people by bullying and violence. Jamey Rodemeyer's YouTube video and subsequent suicide serves as a painful reminder that bullying and youth depression and suicide remain despite positive role modeling and messaging.

All health providers can impact the health of not only the patient in front of them, but also the health of the communities they serve. The Gay Lesbian Medical Association and other health professional organizations have many ways for providers to learn more about LGBT health, teach others on LGBT health and health disparities and improve the access to and quality of care received by LGBT people. I hope you will each take a moment to reflect how each of you can continue to advocate for health equality for all people in your local communities.

Henry Ng, MD