PPP Home

PRINCIPLES REGARDING SEXUALITY

The American Medical Student Association:

1.             In regard to sexual orientation and gender identity:

a.             OPPOSES all public and private discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including in:  medical school admissions, promotion and graduation; postgraduate placement; hospital staff appointments; licensure; availability of health services; and access to social welfare; (2008)

b.             URGES enactment of civil rights laws at the local, state and federal levels, which would provide, to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, the same protections now provided to others on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sex; (2008)

c.             ENCOURAGES the study of the problems encountered by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people when both receiving and providing health care; (2008)

d.             BELIEVES the burden and proof of judgment, reliability, integrity, capability, or entitlement to a position for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people should not be greater than, or different from, that placed on other persons. (2008)

e.             OPPOSES psychiatric diagnosis or treatment policies that discriminate against patients based on their sexual orientation and gender identity or inhibit their access to quality care; (1985)

f.              OPPOSES the use of reparative therapy, a psychological process, which aims to change the sexual orientation of a patient to heterosexual. (2008)

g.             ESTABLISHES as a priority the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity into medical school’s nondiscrimination policy; (1989)

h.             URGES the American Psychoanalytic Association to encourage applicants to its affiliated psychoanalytic institutes without regard to sexual orientation and gender identity; (1990)

2.             In regard to equal civil rights for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender people:

a.             BELIEVES that all persons have equal right to bear and rear children without regard to sexual orientation and gender identity; (1985)

b.             BELIEVES that lesbians who have conceived have a right to nonjudgmental prenatal care and have the right to involve their parenting partner in all aspects of prenatal care and delivery;

c.             BELIEVES that contracts between sperm donor and recipient regarding relinquishment of child custody rights should be viewed as legally binding should such disputes later ensue; (1985)

d.             OPPOSES discrimination based on the sexual orientation and gender identity of either parent in legal child custody disputes; (1985)

e.             OPPOSES discrimination based on the sexual orientation and gender identity in the determination of fitness of prospective adoptive parents.  However, in view of the special needs of adolescents, URGES that agencies seek placement on the basis of mutual respect and support regarding sexual orientation and gender identity; (1985)

f.              OPPOSES discrimination against lesbians by physicians who perform artificial insemination, and URGES physicians to fully cooperate with lesbians and lesbian couples. (1985)

g.             BELIEVES that committed same-sex couples be granted the opportunity to form a legally recognized commitment that extends to this couple all legal benefits formerly reserved for marriages between a man and a woman. (2001)

h.             BELIEVES that this legally recognized commitment allow for the equal adoption of children as a couple with parenting rights extended to both members of the couple. (2001)

i.              DEMANDS all accredited postgraduate residency programs to extend equal benefits to the partners of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender residents that are given to the partners of those heterosexual residents in the same program. (2001)

j.              REQUIRES the Executive Director of AMSA to continue to extend equal benefits to all spouses of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender employees working for AMSA. (2001)

k.             OPPOSES any legislation or any attempt to amend the federal or any state Constitution to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples. (2004)

l.              BELIEVES that full marriage rights should be extended to same-sex couples. (2004)

3.             RECOGNIZES that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender-focused medical student groups play critical roles in supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender medical student well-being and activism. (2006)

4.             FURTHER RECOGNIZES that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender-focused medical student groups play critical roles in cultivating cultural competency at their medical institutions with respect to the health of and healthcare received by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. (2006)

5.             EMBRACES its commitment to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality through continued support of the efforts of local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender-focused medical student groups. (2006)

6.             URGES medical schools to collaborate with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Straight Allied medical students and medical student groups in developing policies, practices, resources, and curriculum that supports Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality. (2006)

7.             SUPPORTS individuals who identify as members of minority populations within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and recognizes the unique challenges facing the health of these populations of people. (2006)

8.             SUPPORTS educating the medical community at large of issues that pertain to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender members of minority populations with intention to increase provider competency and reduce the double stigma that these individuals face. (2006)

9.             SUPPORTS advocating reducing the health disparities faced by and enhance the well being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender members of minority populations. (2006)

10.           URGES Medical Schools to include training in healthcare issues facing minority populations within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community as part of its mandatory curriculum. (2006)