GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
About GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
Based in Washington, DC, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality represents a transformative force in healthcare since 1981. Originally established as the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, GLMA has grown from a physician-focused organization into a welcoming community of approximately 1,000 member health professionals and their allies, united by a shared commitment to health equity for sexual and gender minorities.
At its core, GLMA's mission centers on ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and all sexual and gender minority individuals while fostering equality for LGBTQ and SGM health professionals in their work and learning environments. The organization recognizes that misconceptions about LGBTQ health persist, with many limiting their understanding to HIV alone. GLMA works to expand awareness and understanding of the comprehensive LGBTQ health agenda, addressing diverse health needs across communities.
What distinguishes GLMA is its evolution as an inclusive organization that welcomes all health professionals and supporters who believe in improving health outcomes for LGBTQ people. In 2002, GLMA expanded beyond physicians to embrace all health disciplines. By 2018, the organization updated its identity to explicitly include queer individuals and recognize that all healthcare professionals have a vital role in advancing LGBTQ health equity. Today, GLMA members reside and work across the country and internationally, bringing their expertise to research, advocacy, education, and direct patient care while building power to challenge healthcare inequities.