Leaders Speak Out Against Trump’s Anti LGBTQ Ruling

Just hours ago, the Trump administration repealed a rule in section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which provided protection against LGBTQ discrimination in health care and health insurance. Leaders from both One Colorado and The Trevor Project Released these statements:

“During Pride Month and on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse massacre, the Trump administration has issued another rollback of protections for LGBTQ Americans. In the height of a global pandemic—when LGBTQ people are already at-risk—this rule will allow health care providers to deny LGBTQ Americans the healthcare they need.

Despite these federal rollbacks, protections in Colorado remain for plans regulated by the Division of Insurance—which prohibits discrimination based on someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. One Colorado will continue to advocate for comprehensive protections so that no one can be denied the care they need,” said Daniel Ramos, executive director, One Colorado.

“Access to quality health care without discrimination is critical right now, and thankfully, whatever this new rule may say, LGBTQ people are still protected under the law. This rule sends a dangerous and confusing message to healthcare providers at the worst possible time. In the midst of a global pandemic with serious implications for the LGBTQ youth The Trevor Project serves, the last thing our nation needs is for the Administration to suggest, contrary to the plain language of the Affordable Care Act, that medical care providers don’t have to treat transgender and nonbinary people with the same care and respect as everybody else,” said Sam Brinton (they/them) vice president of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project.

“The decision by the Trump administration today to roll back non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans is appalling. We know from our 2018 Closing the Gap report that 36 percent of LGBTQ Coloradans are not open with their provider about their sexual orientation or gender identity because they fear discrimination. This rule will drastically exacerbate occurrences of discrimination and the fear of discrimination that keeps LGBTQ Coloradans from accessing care. This decision is especially harmful considering that LGBTQ people have been disproportionately impacted by both the health and the financial crises we are currently facing,” said Marvyn Allen, Health Equity & training director, One Colorado

The new rule removes the following protections from the Affordable Care Act (ACA): Any recognition that the ACA prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people. Any recognition that the ACA prohibits discrimination based on sex stereotypes. Any recognition that the law prohibits benefit designs that discriminate, for example, against people living with HIV. Ten unrelated HHS rules that prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in specific programs.