Gettin' Poli

"I know that GLMA members and LGBT physicians have been treated unfairly by the AMA in the past. There is simply no excuse for discriminatory actions or exclusions based on sexual orientation or gender identity -- none. First, GLMA has opened [the AMA's] eyes to the diverse needs of LGBT patients, and second -- and just as important -- GLMA has told patients that they have the right to expect a health care system filled with openness, fairness and equality."
– Dr. Edward Hill, MD, president American Medical Association

What's interesting about that quote is that it was the first verbal admission from any president of the AMA (which, I take it, is the USA's medical god-thing) that even acknowledged that the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association existed. And it's an apology. I suppose that's not too bad, but it does seem fairly Catholic-church-forgives-Galileo-centuries-after-he's-dead of them. "Whoops! Looks like the Earth does orbit the sun! Our bad, Leo."

The GLMA has apparently been around longer than I've been alive (since 1981), but would you care to take a guess at its total population? Just about 1000, as of mid-2008, which is also just about when that quote's from. And that tally is after it counts members in every single USA state and 12 countries! I mean, it's good that it exists, but doesn't it seem like its membership should be larger?

One of their stated goals also reads thus: "to promote quality health care for LGBT and HIV-positive people." Come again? I mean, it's great that HIV-positive folks have an organization advocating for them, but this seems way too close to equating gay people with people who have AIDS. We're past the 80s, aren't we? Also past the 90s? We know now that AIDS is not the gay disease. Straight people can contract AIDS, and of all types - men, women, teens, old folks, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, atheists, politicians, sports stars, dishwashers, millionaires, models.... Who advocates for them? The same organization that would advocate for me if I were turned away from some type of care on the basis of being gay? Again, advocacy in any form is welcome, but this seems dangerously close to saying that being gay, like HIV/AIDS, is a chronic condition/disease.

The GLMA's big research project for the moment is ... (drum roll) ... (bated breath) ... (crickets chirp?) ... investigating meth use in gay men. Meth use. Gay men. All right, maybe I'm not from the city, but the answer seems fairly simple to me: Don't use meth. Period. The CDC does have this sheet, which says a bit about linking meth use and HIV/AIDS. Still, although the concept may seem hard to grasp at first, I'm fairly certain that once a lot of folks have it in their heads, money could be used a lot more efficiently to combat diseases and conditions that aren't idiot-pathic. Seriously.

Zombies walk the EARTH! Stay in school, kids.