Climate change- and LGBTQ-related voting records of SkinPAC-supported members of the 117th U.S. Congress: A cross-sectional study

Introduction With critical health, equity and care delivery implications, advocacy around both climate impacts and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) health is of growing importance among dermatologists and shares overlapping priorities and increasing sociopolitical solidarity. In particular, environmental justice and LGBTQ+ health disparities are intertwined. Climate impacts disproportionately affect gender minority individuals and exacerbate existing socioeconomic, cultural, and health burdens in LGBTQ+ communities. Material and methods A cross-sectional analysis examined monetary contributions from SkinPAC, the American Academy of Dermatology Association's (AADA) political action committee (PAC), to members of the 117th U.S. Congress and whether those receiving contributions have legislative voting records that align with the AADA’s position statements on climate change and LGBTQ+ health. Results While SkinPAC donated more in total dollars to those who voted for pro-climate and pro-LGBTQ+ legislation, SkinPAC still contributed significant dollar amounts to members of Congress whose voting records did not align with the AADA’s position statements. Discussion As with prior studies on donations by medical society PACs, this analysis suggests that other legislative priorities drive contributions and that SkinPAC donations to political candidates may not reflect the position statements of the AADA on matters of public health and equity, including climate change and sexual and gender minority health. Conclusion To better guide SkinPAC contributions to candidates’ federal campaigns and to more effectively and ethically advocate on behalf of dermatologists and their patients, future studies should track alignment between monetary political contributions and Congressional voting records regarding AADA positions on key public health issues, including climate impacts and LGBTQ+ health.