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Homosexuality and Public Health
Policy Date: 1/1/1975
Policy Number: 7514
Whereas, homosexuality (male and female) per se implies no impairment in judgment, reliability, ethicality, or general social or vocational capabilities; and
Whereas, about ten per cent of the population, including providers and recipients of public health services, is predominantly homosexual in one aspect of their lives, but these persons constitute an essentially hidden minority for fear of aggressive ridicule, job loss, or even arrest due to outmoded but widely held assumptions about homosexuality; and
Whereas, discrimination and hostility on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation infringe on human and civil rights, including the rights to privacy, health care, equal opportunity in employment, and full development of one's human potential; and
Whereas, homophobia (discrimination, hostility or fear on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation) adversely affects the health of the people in that it (1) interferes with the proper delivery of health care to the homosexual minority, (2) restricts or eliminates opportunities of this minority to make optimal contributions as health workers, and (3) causes needless physical and mental health problems among this minority;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the American Public Health Association deplores all public and private discrimination against persons with homosexual orientation in such areas as employment, education, licensing, housing, credit, public accommodation, worship, social welfare, and health services, and declares that no burden of proof of judgment, reliability, ethicality, capability, or entitlement shall be placed upon such persons which is greater or different than that placed upon other persons; and
Be It Further Resolved that APHA supports the enactment of civil rights laws at the local, state and federal levels which would provide to persons with homosexual orientation the same protections now provided to others on the basis of religion, color, sex, etc., and, in particular, endorses H.R. 5452, a Bill "to prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual preference" introduced into the 94th Congress by Representative Bella Abzug and others; and
Be It Further Resolved that APHA supports the repeal of laws which classify as criminal conduct consensual sexual activity of any form in private, saving only those portions which protect children, the mentally incompetent, and other helpless persons from rape and other forced sexual activity; and
Be It Further Resolved that APHA will include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation among the prohibited discriminations in its own policies regarding equal employment opportunity for its own staff and for its employment service, and urges all health agencies to do likewise; and
Be It Further Resolved that APHA urges all health agencies which engage in educational activities for their own staffs and for other health workers to provide education regarding the adverse effects of homophobia on the health of the people and regarding ways for health workers to respond better to the needs of patients with homosexual orientation; and
Be It Further Resolved that APHA requests the Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to study, with the assistance of knowledgeable gay persons, the problems encountered by homosexually oriented persons both when receiving and providing health care.
Reference
Task Force on Homosexuality, National Institute of Mental Health. Final Report and Background Papers, 1972.
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