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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1995)
just out ▼ January 20, 1995 ▼ 7 Answers Within For Survivors of Trauma Side One Cure for discrimination Understanding How Trauma Side Two Experiencing Your Safe CICLO'n BICYCLE SWAP MEET i* S at F e b 41 D o n 't min« It - t h e r e ’ll b e big b u c k b ik e M vlng* f o r all. BIGGEST BIKE SALE OF THE ENTIRE YEAR Sales Rep Samples CICLO Clearance Items Pedal-head Exotica A local lesbian physician helps pave path toward equality in health care MANCHI ▼ D IA M O N D B A C K by Inga Sorensen CANNONDAU « I « M V IfT M DOW W TOVIW tt7-M U eforming an entrenched institution is The next logical step was the adoption of this no easy chore, in fact, it is a project particular policy, in which White drafted a section many people would forsake for less dealing with lesbian health concerns. “For years lofty tasks. Not so for Jocelyn C. the AMA viewed gayness as something to be White, a Portland physician who is cured. Now it is something to be accepted,” she helping drag the medical establishment out of adding the says, she realizes this is a tall order. dark ages when it comes to addressing the needs A survey last year of members of GLMA— of sexual minority health care providers and cli formerly known as the American Association of ents. Physicians for Human Rights— found that 64 “Even today, there are many doctors who percent believed gay and lesbian patients risked simply don’t want to take care of gay and lesbian receiving substandard care if they disclosed their patients due to fear and prejudice,” says White, sexual orientation to their health care providers. who, at the age of 33, has a thriving private The new policy, meanwhile, cites a 1989 survey practice and is an instructor at Good Samaritan of general practitioners in which only one-third of Hospital and Medical Center’s residency pro respondents felt comfortable with gay men and 11 gram. White, who is also an assistant professor at percent said homosexuality was an illness. Oregon Health Sciences University, is the vice GLMA has made an effort to shatter the nega president of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Asso tive stereotypes of gay men and lesbians by hold ciation, a 1,600-member organization composed ing meetings with AMA leaders and other medi primarily of gay and cal colleagues. Group lesbian health care members have met with ¿to M providers who are con Clinton administration cerned about the ineq health officials, and uities they and sexual GLMA has launched a minority patients of campaign to encourage ten face in the medical health organizations world. “Things are across the United States getting a little better,” and Canada to adopt she says, “ but the ant i - di s cr i mi n a t i o n changes are extremely statements based on slow.” sexual orientation. In what can be de White has also writ scribed as a dramatic ten extensively on les evolutionary step for bian and gay heath care ward, the American issues. A paperof hers, Medical Association "Lesbian Healthcare: last month adopted a What the primary doc report that calls for a tor needs to know,” is “nonjudgmental rec slated for publication ognition of sexual ori in the Western Journal entation by physi o f Medicine, and she’s Jocelyn C. White written chapters per cian s.” It may not sound so wild and crazy to some, but since 1981 taining to the specific health needs of gay and the AMA has had on its books a policy that lesbian patients for a handful of medical text books. supported treatments aimed at changing gay men and lesbians into heterosexuals. That policy backed That type of proactive work on the part of the use of “aversion therapy,” which included lesbian and gay health care providers may be an practices such as showing gay men pictures of important factor in the AMA’s recent policy shift. nude men and then administering electric shocks. As medical professionals get to know gay and lesbian colleagues, they may become more com The newly adopted report, titled “Health Care fortable with sexual minorities in general. Needs of Gay Men and Lesbians in the U.S.,” says all patients “regardless of their sexual orientation, One published newspaper report quotes Dr. have a right to respect and concern for their lives M. Roy Schwartz, the AMA’s vice president, as saying he was surprised the [new] policy paper and values.” Additionally, the report, which was adopted by the AMA’s governing House of Del was adopted without dissent. He says, “There egates, acknowledges that “gay men and lesbians were physicians who announced from the floor face ostracism and discrimination from some [of the meeting] that they were gay. That wouldn’t have happened five years ago.” health professionals.” It also says sexual minori ties may have some “unique mental health con It is assuredly the persistence of people like White that is paving the path toward equality. “I cerns,” not, as the old policy inferred, because of have to admit I did wonder whether I would be their sexual orientations, but rather because of the hurt professionally by being out and being out social attitudes and discrimination they face due spoken on gay and lesbian health issues,” says to who they are. White, who last year was invited by the National White and other GLMA members were instru Institutes of Health to speak on lesbian health mental in laying the groundwork for the adoption issues. “I’m pleased to say for the most part that of the new policy, which will likely have long- that hasn’t happened.” lasting effects on how sexual minority health care White, who received her medical degree from providers and clients are treated. New York University School of Medicine, lives “This was really part of a process. An impor in Portland with her partner, Lynn Nakamoto, an tant change occurred last year when the AMA attorney. The two have been active in the lesbian agreed to adopt a nondiscrimination statement and gay community for many years. based on sexual orientation," says White. R :■} :-i: if-' ifi , Relief is here for those who suffer from nightmares and flashbacks of past abuse, accidents, and even crime. The soothing voice of Mirabye A. 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