Current anti-discrimination laws that ban discrimination by health insurers and health care providers towards LGBTQ people is to be rolled back by the Trump administration.
The rule, brought in when Obama was president, was a federal law that protected individuals based on their identities. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act stated that it was forbidden to discriminate based upon "race, colour, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs and activities." It was explained at the time that “sex” included an individual’s gender identity and those that identify as "male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female."
In effect, while the Obama plan worked based on an individual’s internal belief in their gender identity, the Trump plan focuses solely on the biological sex an individual was assigned at birth.
BREAKING: “Trump Administration Issues Rule to Roll Back Transgender Protections in the Affordable Care Act”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) June 12, 2020
The administration released this today, on the 4th anniversary of the massacre at #PulseNightclub - an Orlando gay club.
June is also #PrideMonthhttps://t.co/2dnJO85ABJ
The Trump admin has issued a rule that will embolden health care discrimination against transgender people, those seeking reproductive health care, and many other individuals who need health care — all while a global pandemic is occurring.
— ACLU (@ACLU) June 12, 2020
This policy shift which has long been sought by Trump’s religious and conservative supporters, will now allow health insurers and health care providers to refuse to provide healthcare or health insurance to transgender individuals.
Dr. Jeff Barrows, the Christian Medical Association's executive vice president for bioethics and public policy and supporter of the Trump politics, said that:
"We are hopeful that this rule will help steer consideration of gender issues in health care back toward science and away from politics and ideology, back to the protection of professional medical judgment and the freedom to adhere to long-observed ethical and moral standards."
Many social media users, among them Senator Chuck Schumer, noted that the announcement took place on the 4th anniversary of the mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Back in 2016, a gunman entered the club and killed 49 people.
How cruel do you have to be to announce a roll back of health protections for transgender Americans in the middle of a global pandemic, in the middle of #PrideMonth, and on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting?!https://t.co/Y78yHofYGe
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 12, 2020
Trump is doing this during pride month on the anniversary of the pulse nightclub shooting. these are not coincidences, this man is doing everything he can to remove all progress towards basic human rights for all. VOTE HIM OUT! YOUR VOICE COUNTS!!! https://t.co/Nj8UXlCzXM
— Alyson🧘🏻♀️ (@alysonglick_) June 13, 2020
It is however now a great worry among the trans community, as to whether they will continue to be able to obtain a high-level of medical-care, particularly as the group has vastly higher levels of poverty, unemployment and faces discrimination in other fields of life. Freelance writer, Mari Brighe from Detroit, who writes on trans issues blasted the plan:
"I can relate a decade of stories about getting terrible health care because I'm trans … We walk into any given health care situation not knowing whether doctors are going to treat us well, whether we're going to get high quality care, whether any given, random health care person is going to be terrible to us."
Indeed, many are wondering whether the Trump administration is pushing forward these controversial plans now to distract from the multiple crises the US is facing, a pandemic that has cost over 100,000 lives, mass unemployment not seen since the Great Depression and riots place taking in hundreds of cities. Many feel that this move will not only distract but mobilise the Trump evangelical base before the November presidential elections.
The Human Rights Campaign has announced it's plans to sue the Trump administration over the protection rollbacks.
We cannot and will not allow Donald Trump to continue attacking us. Today, we are announcing plans to sue the Trump administration for attempting to remove basic health care protections from vulnerable communities including LGBTQ people.https://t.co/6bzuvV2DZz
— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) June 12, 2020
The Democrats have also spoken out on the reforms, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stating:
“The Administration must immediately abandon this outrageous, un-American plan and give LGBTQ individuals the reassurance that they will never be denied the health care they or their families need.”
The reform of this Act is just one part of an ongoing culture war the US is undergoing, but which will no doubt cost the lives of, and harm the wellbeing of, many transgender people across the country.
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