June 12, 2020
Late this afternoon, a final rule removed nondiscrimination protections from the Affordable Care Act for LGBT people. Christina Wilson Remlin, Lead Counsel at Children’s Rights, issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement is yet another move by the administration to deny LGBTQ people their constitutionally guaranteed rights. The protections for LGBTQ people detailed in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which required medical personnel to treat LGBTQ people equitably and equally, comport with well-accepted standards for healthcare set forth by leading medical organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our clients—young people in child welfare and juvenile justice systems across the country—disproportionately identify as LGBTQ and depend on medical personnel to provide quality care regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. That the administration would roll back these basic protections during a pandemic is especially cruel. Children’s Rights calls on our elected officials in Congress to take swift action to restore these vital protections.”