Bill Buffie, the advocacy stud.

I've blogged about my dad and his proposal to the Indiana State Medical Association before, but here is the biggie! At the same time that I was speaking at the Marriage Equality rally at City Hall in New York a few weeks ago, my dad's resolution passed with amended language and was adopted by the Indiana State Medical Association. This makes Indiana the first state to accept such a resolution which acknowledges the health care disparities of same sex couples who do not have marriage equality. It is so exciting to see that one state at a time, from medicine to pageants, we are using our talents and abilities to change our society and advocate for equality across the board. The official resolution as it passed is below. I think it's safe to say, I'm a really proud daughter :)

You can also read the blog he wrote for the Human Rights Campaign Backstory Blog about the resolution.  Guest Post: Pageants, Medicine, and LGBT Rights

ISMA Resolution 10-02A, passed September 26, 2010 by the House of Delegates 

(following  discussion by Public Health Issues Reference Committee on September 25th)

Title:  Same-Sex Marriage:  Public Health Implications 

Introduced by William C. Buffie, M.D.

1) Whereas, legal marriage status confers numerous financial and legal benefits upon married individuals that improve access to health care;

2) Whereas, better access to health care results in lower overall mortality;

3) Whereas, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community has diminished access to health care;

4) Whereas, the LGBT community suffers from significantly worse mental and physical health  outcomes compared to the community at large;

5) Whereas, the American Medical Association, at the November 2009 convention, acknowledged that same-sex marriage bans do contribute to health disparities in the U.S.;

6) Whereas, evolving medical/social science literature attest to the health benefits conferred by the social and legal recognition of same-sex marriage;

7) Whereas, the ISMA is a body that is to be guided in its decision-making by science, reason, and public policy standards that promote the health and well being of all Indiana citizens; 

8) Whereas, same-sex marriage equality has not been demonstrated to have any deleterious consequences for society in general;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Indiana State Medical Association (1) recognizes that exclusion from civil union or marriage contributes to health care disparities affecting same-sex households; (2) will work to reduce health care disparities among members of same-sex households, including minor children; and (3) will support measures providing same-sex households with the same rights and privileges to health care, health insurance, and survivor benefits, as afforded opposite-sex households.