PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 22, 2023
Contact: Eli Duffy
Communications & Development Manager
eduffy@glma.org
GLMA'S Winter Policy and Position Statement Updates
[Washington, DC] - GLMA, the oldest and largest association of LGBTQ+ and allied health professionals, is pleased to announce the release of its Winter Policy and Position Statement updates. These updates encompass various crucial subjects, such as reproductive care access, evaluation of existing blood donation policies, and advocating for more-inclusive discrimination protections. These updates exemplify GLMA's steadfast commitment to promoting equitable and comprehensive care for all individuals.
These new policies include:
122-02-102-23. Support for Full Reproductive Services
GLMA affirms the reproductive health rights of all people, including people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as a matter of public health, health equity, and liberty. All people have the right to nonjudgmental reproductive healthcare and the right to access the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare services, including reversible and irreversible contraception, fertility treatment, abortion, and family-building.
GLMA also affirms the right of all providers of reproductive health care to do their work free of harassment, intimidation, and danger, including undue legal consequences and repercussions against professional practice. GLMA condemns all governmental attempts, at all jurisdictional levels, which seek to intrude upon the patient-clinician relationship in determining medical necessity of reproductive healthcare and the ability to discuss evidence-based, health-promoting options, including pregnancy termination.
125-15-101-23. Assessment of Current Blood Donation Deferral Policies
GLMA affirms the recently updated blood donation guidelines published in May 2023 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for assessing blood donor eligibility using a set of individual risk-based questions to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The removal of gendered language in screening may result in decreased barriers for gender-diverse donors, who may have previously been subject to the men who have sex with men (MSM) deferral.
GLMA urges the FDA to continue to encourage and monitor scientific advances in blood testing methodology to enlarge the pool of potential safe eligible blood donors as well as ensure equitable donation processes for all donors regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation.
“For many years, the screening of LGBTQ+ individuals for blood donations has been stigmatizing and not based in science,” said GLMA’s VP of Education, Chad Henson Martins, MD. “GLMA continues to advocate for evidence-based and culturally competent advances in all areas, and this is a major leap forward in equity.”
141-23-105 Preventing Discrimination Against Consensually Non-Monogamous People in Healthcare Settings
Health professionals can counteract the stigma associated with consensual non-monogamy (CNM) by being aware that clients and patients may choose not to disclose their CNM relationship status because of widespread stigma and discrimination.
Furthermore, health professionals should be aware that research indicates CNM people report similar levels of relationship quality (e.g., trust, commitment, love, sexual satisfaction) and report higher levels of attachment security in comparison to the general population and monogamous samples.
Health professionals should also be aware that concerning sexual health, CNM people report high levels of safer sex strategies, including barrier method usage and STI testing. Recognizing the stigmatizing traits ascribed to CNM people are untrue is important to CNM-affirming health care.
“Many LGBTQ+ people identify as consensually non-monogamous,” said GLMA Board Member Jared Boot-Haury, PsyD, MBA, CST. “GLMA taking a stand on culturally competent and non-discriminatory care for consensually non-monogamous people is a meaningful step toward improving care and alleviating health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ people overall.”
GLMA encourages health professionals, policymakers, and advocates to review the Winter Policy and Position Statement updates in full and incorporate them into their work and understandings of LGBTQ+ health. By aligning policies and practices with these guidelines, we can collectively improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Visit GLMA’s Policy and Position Statements page to read the full text and learn more.
About GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments. To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research.