The District of Columbia is set to become the first jurisdiction in the nation to require continuing education for healthcare providers in LGBT cultural and clinical competency. On February 2, 2016, the DC City Council unanimously approved a law mandating 2 credit hours per cycle in LGBT cultural competency for all healthcare providers who are required to receive continuing education to renew their license. The LGBTQ Cultural Competency Continuing Education Amendment Act of 2015 is expected to be signed into law by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has previously expressed support.
 
GLMA President Jesse Joad, who spoke before the City Council and the DC Board of Medicine on behalf of GLMA to urge approval of the legislation, issued the following statement:
 
“GLMA applauds the leadership of the DC City Council in recognizing the need for healthcare providers to understand LGBT health and for becoming the first in the nation to require providers to receive continuing education in LGBT clinical and cultural competency. Studies continue to show a severe lack of training in LGBT health, contributing to poor health outcomes for LGBT people. A core competent of GLMA’s work has been the principle that cultural competency training specific to LGBT populations should and must be a standard component in the education, and continuing education, of all health professionals.

"DC will become the first to put this principle into practice, and we look forward to working across the country to help support similar legislative efforts that improve the health and well-being of LGBT people.”
 
GLMA worked in coalition with several national and local organizations to ensure the bill’s passage. The legislation was introduced and championed by DC Councilmembers David Grosso and Yvette Alexander.

A copy of the legislation can be found here.