Contact:
Sue Rochman
Communications Director
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
415-255-4547, ext. 309
Medical Group Rejects Gay Docs Told "your service would not benefit or interest our members"
SAN FRANCISCO (March 9, 1998) -- In a decision that highlights why many lesbians do not receive adequate medical care, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has rejected a request by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association for exhibit space at ACOG's annual conference.
After waiting five months for ACOG's decision, GLMA, the San Francisco-based national organization of gay and lesbian physicians, received a letter on March 3 stating, "Your service would not benefit or be of interest to the majority of our membership."
"We are outraged that a physicians' organization dedicated to improving women's health care would not understand the importance of educating its members about the specific health care needs of lesbians," said GLMA President Michael Horberg, MD, a San Francisco Bay Area internist. "Every ACOG physician is undoubtedly already treating women who are lesbians, and the information that we can provide to these physicians can help ensure that these patients receive quality health care."
GLMA's request for exhibit space was part of its ongoing work to increase awareness about gay and lesbian health issues at medical conferences. GLMA selected ACOG's conference because ACOG is the nation's leading group of obstetricians and gynecologists and because many gynecologists are unaware that lesbians have specific medical needs.
"Lesbians often don't obtain gynecological services because they fear encountering homophobia from their gynecologist, and their health suffers because of this," said Jocelyn White, MD, a GLMA board member and the co-editor of the Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. "ACOG's mission is to educate its members about all women's health issues, yet their decision to reject GLMA shows they are willing to ignore the medical needs of millions of women. Lesbian patients expect, and deserve, more."
As an organization working to eliminate discrimination in the medical profession, GLMA is also deeply concerned about the ramifications of ACOG's decision for gay and lesbian obstetricians and gynecologists.
At its Board of Directors meeting in Miami on March 7, GLMA's directors called for a meeting with ACOG President Vicki Seltzer, MD, and voted to formally request that ACOG's decision be reversed. GLMA is also asking ACOG to educate its members about the issues faced by their lesbian and gay colleagues and about the medical needs of lesbians.
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The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association is an organization of 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered physicians, medical students, and their supporters in all 50 states and 12 countries. Founded in 1981, GLMA works to combat homophobia within the medical profession and in society at large and to promote quality health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered patients.
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