ALPA Guidance
Whether you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or have a loved one or family member who is, ALPA wants to make sure that every pilot feels included within our pilot group. In order to serve all of our members (and your families) inclusively, ALPA has compiled the following material to provide information regarding the LGBTQIA+ community.
Health-Care Benefits
Check with your employer for benefits coverage for same-sex partners, registered domestic partners, and legal same-sex marriages.
ALPA Resources
Professional Standards resolves conflicts between pilots and other individuals that might affect flight deck safety and/or professionalism. All calls are confidential. Check your MEC webpage for contact information. If your MEC does not have an established Professional Standards Committee, contact ALPA National Professional Standards chairman Capt. Tom Letson.
ALPA Aeromedical provides free, confidential consultations with medical professionals to all ALPA members in good standing. Contact ALPA Aeromedical (also known as the Aviation Medicine Advisory Service or AMAS) at 303-341-4435 Monday through Friday 0830 to 1600 MT or visit the AMAS website.
Pilot Peer Support (PPS) connects ALPA members with trained pilot peers to talk about any personal or professional problems you may be experiencing. PPS volunteers listen and offer confidential, nonjudgmental support. Speak with a PPS peer about any concerns that may threaten your medical certificate, career, and life. Peers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact PPS.
Transgender Pilots
It is recommended you contact ALPA Aeromedical for assistance. The Aeromedical committee has a partnership with AMAS, which provides professional support to ALPA pilots when transitioning. Learn more.
Gender Dysphoria Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
This guide is available for AMEs treating transgender pilots.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
What You Should Know About EEOC and the Enforcement Protections for LGBTQIA+ Workers
Check with your airline for information about pass privileges for domestic partners.
External Resources
Advocacy
The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is the largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender aviation professionals and enthusiasts from around the world. Their mission is to build, support, and unite the LGBTQIA+ aviation community worldwide through education, social events, and outreach. Their primary goals are to promote aviation safety, provide an affirming social and professional network for the LGBTQIA+ aviation community, foster equal treatment of the LGBTQIA+ aviation community through advocacy and outreach, and encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to begin careers in aviation. Learn more.
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) provides support to families and allies who are in need through peer-to-peer meetings, online outreach, and telephone hotlines. PFLAG National also offers a huge variety of resources and programs that provide support for those in need. PFLAG has parenting advice on their website, including handling the challenge of a child “coming out.” Learn more.
COLAGE unites people with LGBTQIA+ parents into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture an empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities. Learn more.
The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization, winning lifesaving change for transgender people. The organization is devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. Learn more.
True Colors is an advocacy group working to ensure funding, policies, systems, and protections are in place for LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness. Learn more.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Association is an international advocacy group with resources and information to educate you about LGBTQIA+ laws in different countries. Learn more.
Mental Health Support
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a significant percentage of the LGBTQIA+ community suffers from mental illness. Local NAMI chapters nationwide offer free, evidence-based classes and support groups for family members of loved ones living with mental illness. Learn more.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-273-8255. Learn more.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQIA+ young people under 25. They are available 24/7 at 866-488-7386. Learn more.
The Crisis Text Line connects every texter with a trained crisis counselor, real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem solving. All of Crisis Text Line’s crisis counselors are volunteers, donating their time to helping people in crisis. Text “hello” to 741741. Learn more.
Travel Safety
The U.S. Department of State recommends that LGBTQIA+ travelers research all destinations before visiting and learn more about local laws regarding the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn more.