On Friday, June 12th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his administration repealed nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people in healthcare and health insurance.

Under federal law, the 2010 Affordable Care Act Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs and activities. "Sex" has, since 2016, been defined as "male, female, neither, or a combination of male and female." This definition is now being revoked, meaning that "sex" only protects discrimination on the basis of biological sex.

What does this mean for the transgender population of America, which, in a 2016 study conducted by the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, accounts for 0.6% of the population (approximately 2 million people)?

1. Healthcare providers can refuse medical care on account of the patient being transgender (for example, a transgender woman suffering from prostate cancer could be denied treatment).
2. They can be turned away from shelters or other gender-specific services and activities.
3. Insurance companies can refuse to cover their medical procedures.
4. They can be charged more for medical care related to gender transitioning.

How does this affect non-transgender, or cisgender, people in the U.S.?

1. Medical providers can deny access to safe, legal abortions on the basis of personal religion.
2. Health insurers can change their benefits to discriminate against those with HIV.
3. For those who are non-English speaking, access to translation and interpretation services will be more difficult.

By signing this petition, you are showing to the United States government that the citizens of the U.S. see this removal as a violation of human rights for everyone.

Sources:

https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/hhss-proposed-changes-to-non-discrimination-regulations-under-aca-section-1557/#:~:text=Section%201557%20prohibits%20discrimination%20based,health%20care%20based%20on%20sex

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/12/868073068/transgender-health-protections-reversed-by-trump-administration

https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/manage/technicalassistance/section-1557-LEP-civil-rights.pdf

https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/fs-sex-discrimination/index.html#:~:text=Section%201557%20prohibits%20discrimination%20on,certain%20health%20programs%20and%20activities

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/