The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care opposes two proposed policy changes released last week by the Trump administration that would roll back protections from discrimination in health care and shelter housing for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals.
On May 23, the Department of Housing and Urban Development released a proposed rule change allowing federally funded shelters to refuse services based on gender identity.
On May 24, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a proposal to remove explicit protections
in the Affordable Care Act
for LGBTQ people in healthcare programs and activities by excluding protections from discrimination based on sex stereotyping and gender identity.
This is wrong and institutionalizes discrimination and stigma. Gay, bisexual and transgender communities bear the brunt of the domestic HIV epidemic in the United States. Fear of discrimination causes many LGBTQ people to avoid seeking health care and banning transgender individuals from shelters will worsen the homeless crisis. We know stigma and housing instability fuels the HIV epidemic and are barriers to
HIV prevention and treatment services.
LGBTQ people deserve access to health care and emergency services that are respectful and free of discrimination. Removing their protections will further widen the disparities gap and harm individual and community progress towards health and an end to the HIV epidemic.
We must work to demolish barriers to equity, not promote them.
