GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality

Ignite 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 over 559 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. Your contribution matters: Help us create a brighter future for LGBTQ+ health!

Now more than ever, we need to join together to build power in the new year! 

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 2023:

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.

The virtual conference format this year provided an incredible opportunity for many individuals to participate who might not have been able to attend otherwise. However, we believe it is critical to shift back to in-person meetings at our next conference. This decision is rooted in our commitment to fostering direct, meaningful interactions that can only occur face-to-face, an experience we believe is essential for the collaborative advancement of LGBTQ+ health.

With that in mind, we are excited to announce that for our 42nd Annual Conference on LGBTQ+ Health will be returning to an in-person setting in Charlotte, North Carolina! Keep an eye out for updates on #GLMA2024!

The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a free, searchable database of almost 2500 doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the United States and Canada. 

The directory, developed by Tegan and Sara Foundation, GLMA and Cigna, will reach vital and diverse audiences of medical professionals and LGBTQ+ patients in need of care. Since its launch, the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory has connected more than 2,700 providers through 43,000 searches across all 50 states. With over 60,000 engaged users, the demand for the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory's services is undeniable.

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.

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 million dollars to fund over 120 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.