The American Medical Association (AMA) voted earlier this week at its Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates to include the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) in its Specialty and Service Society.

This is the first step in a process that ultimately may allow the GLMA to vote on resolutions and policies brought before the AMA.

"[We] are being recognized on a peer level with other professional medical associations," said Christopher Harris, president of the GLMA.

GLMA was instrumental in the AMA's adoption of a sexual-orientation non-discrimination policy and is actively supporting the AMA's Medical Student Section resolution on domestic partner health benefits.