One activist claimed that “This bill seeks to further discriminate against my trans and non-binary siblings.”
A bill from Idaho’s committee that would prohibit the government from funding gender-affirming care has been moved to the floor of the Idaho House.
“Alarming!” LGBTQ legislative scholar Allison Chapman posted a report on social media that a bill in Idaho has passed the committee that may significantly restrict ADULT access to gender-affirming care. It forbids the use of state funds, health, and welfare services, as well as state health care providers from providing GAC, and makes funds used for GAC non-tax-deductible.
Idaho is one of the 22 states that now outlaw gender-affirming care for transgender minors. In addition to the previous law, which forbids the provision of gender-affirming care for trans minors, House Bill 668 would prohibit doctors or health care professionals employed by state, county, or local governments from “providing] the [providing] the [providing] the [providing] of ] the surgical operations or medical interventions. Public officers or employees who purposefully violate the act could face accusations of misusing public funds.
According to activists, this bill will restrict transgender adults’ access to the best-practice health care and only exacerbate the state’s current transgender youth issues.
In Idaho, Chapman predicted that this would significantly limit access to HRT for both adults and minors.
A recent study found that those who identify as gender non-conforming are more likely to find themselves in a lower socio-economic position and are thus more likely to be eligible for Medicaid. In fact, according to the Williams Institute, 28 percent of LGBTQ people in the state, or more than 13,000, make less than $24,000 annually. Additionally, a statewide survey of transgender people in 2015 found that 6% of the population was unemployed and 25% lived in poverty.
At the committee hearing for the bill, transgender man Merrick Collins testified that “removing Medicare and Medicaid coverage for (hormone replacement therapy) limits my access to treatment that I need to function properly in society, lowering my quality of life while I live here in Idaho.
According to the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), nine states currently expressly forbid trans-related health care for all ages from Medicaid coverage, and three states forbid trans-related health care for minors from coverage.
“This bill seeks to further discriminate against my transgender and non-binary siblings, imposing hardships on our health and well-being.” During the committee hearing, AlexaLynne Fill testified that the marginalization and denigration of a vulnerable population was nothing more than a cruel and vicious attack. “Stop the hate, do better, and serve the entire Idahoan population.”
House Bill 668 is one of the state’s 12 anti-LGBT bills currently being tracked by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Another advancing bill would allow adoption and foster care agencies that are anti-LGBTQ to refuse LGBTQ children, require teachers to mispronounce and deadname transgender students at work, forbid the display of pride flags in classrooms, and forbid diversity, equity, and inclusion positions as well as diversity training in colleges and universities.
A coalition of non-profits and LGBTQ officials staged a protest earlier this month at the Idaho State Capitol against these anti-LGBT bills.
“Despite bills that directly seek to erode our humanity and our rights, we are okay and we refuse to be invisible. Transgender and queer Idahoans can show their resilience, affirm their dignity, and come together in a powerful act of love and resistance in March Forth,” according to ACLU of Idaho Advocacy Fellow Jenna Damron. “We are proud and determined not to go anywhere.”
