Anti-LGBT problems have been rampant in the appropriations approach for the fiscal year 2024. All 12 of the budget payments that must be passed have anti-LGBT provisions added by Republican House of Representatives users. These riders include limitations on diversity and inclusion initiatives, allowances for bias against same-sex couples, bans on pull performances, and restrictions on gender-affirming care.
These dangerous anti-LGBT measures are being made at a time when there have never been more legislative assaults on the LGBTQ community. As of this quarter, 506 anti-LGBT costs have been introduced in state legislatures just this time. Disturbing numbers of expenses have been introduced in the House of Representatives, including the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would forbid trans kids from playing on sports team that reflect their female personality. In fact, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which contains provisions that forbid gender-affirming treatment, bring appearances, and pride flag features, has already been passed by the House and is regarded as a must-pass piece of legislation.
But, the Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 2024 is probably the most wicked and hazardous for the trans community of all the budget expenses. The anti-LGBT riders in this act want to stop money from being used for collateral and prejudice programs, for punishing people who speak or behave in a way that suggests marriage is between men and women, or for flying pride flags. Additionally, this bill’s Area 534 would forbid the use of funds for hormone therapy or gender-affirming medical treatments. This will have significant negative effects if it is passed.
One of the departments supported by the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which houses the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ). As of July 2023, CMS offers Medicaid health insurance to about 84.5 million students, including ready low-income people. Medicaid is now one of the biggest health care earners in the US.
About 276 000 trans people in the United States are eligible for Medicaid as of December 2022, and 60 % of these participants live in states or territories where Medicaid programs especially cover gender-affirming treatment, such as hormone therapy, medical treatments, or other solutions. Another 27 % of transgender Medicaid recipients reside in states with ambiguous or passive rules regarding gender-affirming care coverage. There are no communicate rules or guidelines addressing gender-affirming treatment under Medicaid in 14 states. Policies under state Medicaid programs expressly exclude this treatment in four more says, but behavior by state legislatures, officials, and courts have suggested that these states have infrequently enforced or may not be enforcing these policies. However, around 14 % of transgender Medicaid beneficiaries live in states that specifically forbid exposure to gender-affirming services that are covered by Medicaid.
With the passage of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, this 14 % will significantly increase. Medicaid programs wo n’t be able to pay for hormone therapies or gender-affirming surgical programs for thousands of transgender people, many of whom are low-income, without funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In addition to the fact that too many people wo n’t have enough money to pay for private medical services or programs, states are also increasingly enacting and passing regulations on gender-affirming care across the nation. There are now 135 state bills aimed at providing transgender people with healthcare, many of which aim to outlaw gender-affirming care, impose criminal penalties for doing so, or obstruct funding for health facilities that provide this life-saving care.
Our final line of defense against this federal threat is you and your elected members of Congress. To prevent any attempts to harm or prosecute our trans friends, families, and communities, we must all work together. Inform your members of Congress that gender-affirming treatment is secure, medically necessary, supported by evidence, and can save lives. Inform your members of Congress that efforts to prosecute and deny gender-affirming care are firmly opposed by every major health organization in the nation, including the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Associations, and American Academy of Pediatrics. Inform your members of Congress that patients should make their own health choices rather than relying on fear-mongering politicians with little to no medical training.
Together, we can work to defend trans people and stop further malicious attacks on the transgender community and the larger Gay area from occurring.
Is there a reason why we refer to “must-pass” costs in the first paragraph but not here?
