GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality

Drive Change for LGBTQ+ Health: Make a Donation to Fuel GLMA's Future!

Founded in 1981, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality is the world’s oldest and largest association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) healthcare professionals and their allies. GLMA is committed to ensuring health equity for LGBTQ+ individuals, 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.

In this historic moment, the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community are formidable. With a continual rise in anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced, our safety, well-being, and access to inclusive healthcare are at risk. Your generous donation today is a vital act of defiance against these attacks. These funds drive GLMA's efforts to combat harmful legislation, advocate for comprehensive healthcare policies, and ensure equitable access for all LGBTQ+ individuals. 

LGBTQ+ health equity is our goal.
Research, Education, and Advocacy are our strategies.
Professional membership is our core strength.

With your support we can do more! 

Invest in Change, Invest in Health: Make a donation to GLMA today

Read on to learn more about some of GLMA's most impactful programs of 2024:

 Since its inception in 1981, GLMA's Annual Conference on LGBTQ+ Health has served as the premier scientific conference for LGBTQ+ and allied health professionals to share innovative healthcare breakthroughs and interventions, as well as the latest research on LGBTQ+ health. The conference is open to health care providers of all disciplines, researchers, academics, health administrators, policy experts, advocates, and all LGBTQ+ health supporters.

We are looking forward to joining together for GLMA's 42nd Annual Conference on LGBTQ+ Health this year! The conference will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina - September 30 - October 2, 2024.

This year's conference theme, Practice with Pride, serves as a powerful reminder of the collective power of pride as we shape a better and healthier future for the LGBTQ+ community. The theme underscores the profound connection between LGBTQ+ representation, allyship, and health equity, recognizing that a healthcare system that authentically reflects and respects the diversity of the population it serves is better equipped to address the unique needs and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. 

By practicing with pride, health professionals create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare landscape for everyone.

The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a free, searchable database of almost 3500 doctors, medical professionals and health care providers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the United States and Canada. 

Over 15 years ago, GLMA built the very first directory of LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals. Through their vast membership, the directory grew to be the most respected resource of its kind in the United States. Together with input from LGBTQ+ health experts and community leaders, this resource has been updated with innovative search functionality, the highest standards of accessibility and a new set of guiding principles.

This relaunched LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory was developed in partnership by GLMA and the Tegan and Sara Foundation, will reach vital and diverse audiences of medical professionals and LGBTQ+ patients in need of care. Since its launch, the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory has made more than 8,800 connections between providers and new patients, through 143,000 searches across all 50 states. With over 119,000 engaged users, the demand for the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory's services is undeniable.

The Lesbian Health Fund (LHF), a program of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, was established in 1992 to define, study, and educate lesbians and other sexual minority women, as well as their healthcare providers, about health issues facing the community.

Since its launch, LHF has granted over $1.2 million dollars to fund over 131 critical research studies which have deepened knowledge of our communities’ health. LHF is the only US research fund dedicated solely to the unique health needs of lesbians and sexual minority women. The grants are crucial catalysts to larger, multi-million dollar studies funded by federal agencies.

Today, LHF remains committed to improving the health of lesbians and sexual minority women over the lifespan, from early childhood, through adolescence, and adulthood, including aging. There is still great need to understand how social determinants, especially race and ethnicity, influence the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ women and girls.