Date: Sat, 6 Apr 1996 15:11:31 -0500
Subject: QUEER DOCTORS CLARIFY MISSION BY REMOVING TRANSPEOPLE
From: riki@pipeline.com (Riki Anne Wilchins)

QUEER DOCTORS CLARIFY MISSION BY REMOVING TRANSPEOPLE 
 
[SAN FRANCISCO, CA - April 5, 1996] 
 
       In a move that left transexual members stunned 
and angry, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association  
(GLMA), one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious  
organizations for queer physicians, has backed away from  
its policy of trans-inclusion, only recently implemented,  
and removed all reference to transpeople from its  
letterhead and mission statement. 
 
      While GLMA began officially welcoming transphysicians 
as members in 1994, describing itself in its letterhead  
and literature as "a U.S. and Canadian organization of  
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered physicians,  
medical students, and their supporters," in an  
unpublicized and unannounced move during its February 16  
meeting in Washington, DC, GLMA Board members voted to  
strike "transgender" from the group's description.   
 
     The word "Canadian" was also removed in the same  
motion.  The Board has emphasized that transgendered  
physicians (and presumably Canadians) are still welcome 
in GLMA. 
 
     Neither GLMA transmembers, nor its general  
membership, were consulted or informed in this action,  
learning of it only during the last week of March,  
when a disgruntled Board member leaked word to founding  
member and transexual physician Joy Shaffer, MD,  
a San Jose internist.  While some members are troubled  
by the vote, others have seen the covert handling of  
the matter as equally troubling.  
 
     In a letter send to GLMA transmember  
Anne Lawrence, MD, GLMA President Valerie Ulstad, MD  
explained that the decision to remove transpeople grew  
from the Board's conviction that GLMA should better  
define its mission. Although transphysicians comprise  
under .05% of GLMA members, Dr. Ulstad stated the  
Board doubted whether it had the resources or expertise  
to effectively advocate transgender issues.  She further  
stated that retaining references to transpeople under  
such conditions was "potentially disrespectful."   
 
       However, it is worth noting the GLMA Board  
elected not to consult with transphysicians on whether  
in fact they perceived any lack of advocacy, on any  
potential disrespect in keeping the original mission  
statement intact, or on the more obvious potential  
for disrespect by removing them quietly and unilaterally, 
in absentia.   
 
      In addition, in a statement eerily reminiscent of  
recent "mainstreaming" by other national queer  
organizations, Dr. Ulstad questioned whether GLMA  
should expand its long-standing advocacy of  
"sexual preference" to also include "gender expression. " 
 
       Said Dr. Lawrence, "Unfortunately, the Board  
seems not to have understood that sexual preference  
and gender identity are often intertwined in ways that  
defy easy distinctions."  She added, "Dr. Ulstad has  
assured me that the Board will reconsider this decision  
at its May meeting. I trust that the Board will reverse  
this regrettable misstep.  Transgendered physicians are  
often an endangered species in the world of medicine.   
The visible support of queer organizations is critical  
in our struggle for acceptance in the wider medical  
community." 
 
       GLMA members, transgendered and otherwise, have  
already communicated their objections to Board members  
and the organization's Executive Director, Benjamin Schatz.  
Among those expressing concern was lesbian film-maker  
Dee Mosbacher, MD, producer of the award-winning  
documentary "Straight from the Heart." 
 
       In a gratuitous and completely fatuous remark,  
Transexual Menace spokestrans Riki Wilchins hotly declared,  
"We are shocked, shocked at this blatant display of phobia.   
While we can certainly sympathize with transphobia,  
especially national groups' desire to put the gendertrash  
out for the night, it is absolutely inexcusable that  
*anyone* would want to treat our wonderful neighbors to  
the north in this exceptionally thoughtless and cavalier 
manner.  Canad-o-phobia must not go unchallenged." 
 
       Despite feverish efforts, IYF staffers were unable  
to substantiate rumors that transactivists were intent on  
launching a green-shirted "Canadian Menace" movement, although  
usually reliable sources reported observing several dozen members  
of the Albany TM chapter, crossing the border into Canada at  
an unattended checkpoint late last night. 
 
       GLMA can be contacted at: 211 Church Street #C  
San Francisco CA 94114; (415)255-4547; or gaylesmed@aol.com   
Dr. Anne Lawrence can be reached at LawrenceMD@aol.com  
[END]