LGBTQ Organizations Sue Trump

LGBTQ Organizations Are Suing Trump Administration for Healthcare Rollback

Myesha Sapp

In light of the decision made by the Trump Administration to roll back former President Obama’s expanded Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, many LGBTQ Organizations and clinics, along with some individual doctors, are suing the Trump Administration. This expansion from 2016 prevents health care discrimation on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. 

As a result of this, healthcare facilities are now allowed to refuse service to those who identify as transgender. 

The lawsuit was originally filed by Lambda Legal and Steptoe & Johnson. The following clinics and organizations are plaintiffs: “Allentown’s Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Whitman-Walker Health, the Trans Latin@ Coalition, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, and AGLP: The Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists” (Villemez, 2020).

Adrian Shanker, executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, explains how LGBTQ people who live in rural areas are especially affected by said rollbacks because they have lower access to healthcare beforehand. Shanker also told PGN “We are suing on behalf of LGBTQ communities across the country. This is essential for the LGBTQ community’s ability to access care. We wish we had a federal administration that instead of removing access to healthcare would be working to extend healthcare for all people, including LGBTQ people” (Villemez, 2020).

The lawsuit filed Monday accuses the government of relying on just that one ruling to invite "health care insurers and providers to discriminate against LGBTQ people seeking health care" (Kates, 2020). 

The HHS said in its release that it plans to continue "vigorously" enforcing civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in health care based on its interpretation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. (Cole, 2020)

"HHS respects the dignity of every human being, and as we have shown in our response to the pandemic, we vigorously protect and enforce the civil rights of all to the fullest extent permitted by our laws as passed by Congress," said Roger Severino, the director of the department's Office for Civil Rights.

Resources:

Villemez, J., By, & -. (2020, June 24). LGBTQ Organizations Sue Trump Administration for Healthcare Rollback. Retrieved June 26, 2020, from https://epgn.com/2020/06/23/lgbtq-organizations-sue-trump-administration-for-healthcare-rollback/

Kates, G., (2020, June 22). LGBTQ organizations sue Trump administration over rule erasing health care protections. Retrieved June 26, 2020, from 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lgbtq-health-care-protections-trump-administration-lawsuit/

Cole, D., (2020, June 13). Trump administration rolls back Obama-era transgender health care protections. Retrieved June 26, 2020, from 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/12/politics/trump-administration-transgender-health-care-protections/index.html

Crossposted on Crossroads Equality: https://www.crossroadequality.com/post/lgbtq-orgs-sue-trump