Surprising nobody with any knowledge of the Trump Administration’s history when it comes to LGBTQ rights, the administration has moved to void healthcare protections for LGBTQ Americans at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protections came into effect as part of Obamacare, the healthcare reforms passed under President Barack Obama. Section 1557 of the law prohibits denial of care based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Now Politico reports that both the White House and Justice Department have announced that removal of the regulation is under final review. Worse, the new rules would roll back other legal protections for LGBTQ Americans in seeking and accessing healthcare.
Related: The GOP Obamacare debacle means Trump’s attacks on equality will only get worse
“If the final rule is anything like the proposed rule, HHS is adopting changes that would be harmful in the best of times but that are especially cruel in the midst of a global pandemic that is disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and exacerbating disparities,” Georgetown law professor Katie Keith told Politico.
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Critics like Keith worry that changing rules to allow healthcare providers to turn away queer patients could have far-reaching and damaging effects on the community, and drastically affect the access of LGBTQ Americans to healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic.
jayceecook
It was only a matter of time unfortunately. Still an absolutely horrendous thing to do while we’re living through a pandemic. A pandemic that is surely going to rebound in a few months. Probably why he’s pushing so hard to get this done. Although I was under the assumption part of it was already blocked by a judge a few years ago? Did that change? Not that I have any faith in them but hopefully the Supreme Court will make the right decision when they finally take this issue on soon.
UlfRaynor
Though this is wrong people should know, regardless of this, hospitals are by federal law mandated to treat anyone. They can not refuse to provide medical services to anyone who walks into an emergency room.
jayceecook
That’s only partly true. By federal law if you come into an ER or even on the property of a hospital with a life or death situation the hospital and doctors cannot deny you treatment to get you stable. EMTALA covers all hospitals that have ERs and that accept Medicare payments from the federal government. While this covers most hospitals there are some that don’t fit the above criteria unfortunately. Also if the hospital gives you any sort of tests or screenings that determine to them that you are not in need of emergency medical treatment they have no legal obligation to treat you and can boot you. Once you are stabilized they can either transfer you to a different hospital or simply discharge you.
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Cam
And here it is. Remember a few days ago they had Trump’s token gay employee say that the White House MIGHT do something blah blah blah that would be good for LGBT people.
It was all to hopefully get good media coverage and to take attention away from this.
Chrisk
This is move out of support for his base ie Religious Reich wingers.
Kangol2
But I thought that, according to Kieran, Don the Con’s 2 or 3 incompetent gay quislings meant he was better on LGBTQ rights and equality than both of our last two Democratic presidents put together? I thought one grotesquely mediocre gay reich-winger like Richard Grenell trumped all of the gay and trans advances under the last Democratic president, who not only openly and actively supported LGBTQ people, helped end DOMA and DADT, pressed anti-gay countries on their oppressive laws against LGBTQ people, etc., but made Don the Con the greatest pro-gay prez in history? GTFOH! By the time Covid-Don is done, we may not have a country left to speak of!
Jon in Canada
Dear Sane America,
Will you now consider a 2nd amendment solution?
Signed,
Sanity & Reality
radiooutmike
Any words from the Log Cabin republicans around here?
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
I know this is a dumb question to ask but why did you guys not include his statements about injecting disinfectants to get rid of the Coronavirus? He claims to have said it in jest and obviously YOU believe him.
sillyme
Hey all send questions like that right to Queerty and ask them directly would make more sense to do so and with luck get the right answers from them and their staff..
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Thank you for the suggestion but I’ll pass. If Queerty won’t acknowledge they’ve received an article related to gays that you took the time to send them why would they bother answering a question?
Dick Gozinia
This article is really vague. What LGBTQ persons, with what conditions, seeking treatment from what providers, under what circumstances will no longer be protected? For example, this change will have no impact at all on my healthcare. So who is impacted? I dislike Trump as much as the rest of you but I like to know the full story on things like this.
jayceecook
Have you tried researching the topic outside of reading 1 article on a low rent queer website? Are you even familiar with the specific provision of the Affordable Care Act this would affect? Did you consider clicking the link provided to read the article Queerty referenced to see if there was more information there? Because despite the fact that you think you won’t be affected, you very well could be down the road if you’re a member of the LGBTQ community.
https ://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/trump-team-moves-to-scrap-protections-for-lgbtq-patients-206398
https ://www.hrc.org/blog/trump-pence-admin-moves-to-undermine-lgbtq-protections-in-health-care
Hdtex
Do your own damn research “DICK”.
Cam
In other words, you didn’t click the link and are trying to dodge that.
Garth
Ever notice whenever Trump gets humiliated because of his stupidity , he attacks the LGBTQ community ?
Evji108
My big question is, How does anyone determine that someone is gay or not when they present themselves for treatment? Will the next thing be that gay people have to have I.D. cards – or would that be pink triangles? Given all the information that the government and corporations have collected on the public would make it pretty easy to find out who is gay. I’m quite sure the religious right would love to implement this as well.
CityguyUSA
I kept warning everyone that marriage equality was only the beginning of equalizing rights and that the fight was starting not ending.
GayEGO
Absolutely! We have a bumpy time ahead, but most people are smart enough and have us in their families so they will block and protest these horrendous actions by Trump/Pence.
SportGuy
Its past time for this corrupt fat orange Russian puppet to go!