Leading Civil Rights Group Praises HHS Announcement Interpreting Sex Discrimination Prohibitions to Include Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
National Black Justice Coalition Celebrates Announcement Saying ALL People Should Have the Right to Access Health Care and Receive Equal Treatment, Regardless of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON, DC — This morning, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Office for Civil Rights will interpret and enforce Section 1557 and Title IX’s prohibitions on discrimination based on sex to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The announcement affirms that people have a right to access health care and receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.
In reaction to the announcement, Victoria Kirby York, deputy executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV, issued the following statement:
“No one should experience discrimination when seeking health care. Health practitioners are trained to do no harm and to treat all patients fairly – when these guiding principles are ignored patients deserve to be able to seek justice and/or accountability.
“As a Black same gender loving woman, I know too often the experience of going to the doctor only to not have my pain or symptoms listened to, to be forced to take unneeded pregnancy tests, and being told I don’t need to come back to an office when my symptoms have still not been properly addressed. When people know they can get away with treating others poorly – they will do so for folks they have bias against.
“Today’s announcement from the Biden/Harris Administration will save lives, force equal treatment of all patients, and increase the likelihood that LGBTQ+ people will go to the doctor when they need to instead of being prevented by fear.”