Is the government bad for your health?

The American Medical Association took a shot at anti-LGBT government policies Tuesday, saying they are detrimental to the health of gay and lesbian individuals.

The nation's largest doctor's lobby adopted a resolution declaring the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy a violation of doctor-patient confidentiality. Gay and lesbian patients fearful of their military careers hesitate to disclose their sexual orientation when talking about certain health issues. By command, military doctors must report their patient's sexual orientation to superiors.

The declaration also calls for the expansion of federal marriage statutes since prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from marrying excludes individuals from receiving health care benefits such as insurance or medical leave.