Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
News for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Physicians
GLBT cases in Supreme Court spotlight
The U.S. Supreme Court will review a record eight gay-and-lesbian-related cases during its fall session, all involving same-sex marriage. Most of them are appealing challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act and have been winding their way through the courts for years.
The cases have utilized different strategies to challenge the law. A summary by Keen News Service, which reports on national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT)-related issues, details the GLBT-related cases seeking the Supreme Court's review.
The Defense of Marriage Act bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex spouses for any federal purpose. That means couples who may be legally married in their state cannot access federal benefits such as Social Security or claim themselves as married on tax filings.
AMA policy opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the AMA has filed multiple amicus briefs challenging the Defense of Marriage Act.
Chicago organization offers holistic approach to GLBT health care
An organizational partnership in Chicago aims to address various health issues in the city's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community, including HIV, smoking, violence and obesity.
A story in the Chicago Tribune details the partnership between the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus and the Healthy Chicago action plan for the LGBT community to address those issues. The caucus also recently collaborated with the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and other health organizations to host the eighth annual LoveFest, which offered not only HIV/AIDS education but also screenings for mental health and other health services.
Physicians have a guide from the AMA regarding for GLBT health care in the form of a webcast titled, "Meeting the Health Care Needs of LGBT People."
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