FedWatch
No License to Discriminate
LICENSE TO DISCRIMINATE
The Trump administration is attempting to undermine current non-discrimination protections throughout the federal government for LGBTQ people through rulemaking. These actions would have the deepest impacts on people in our community who are the most in need of support, including LGBTQ people of color, young queer and trans people in the foster care system, people with low or no income, aging LGBTQ people, and LGBTQ people with disabilities.
THE LATEST
Rolling Back Protections in Health and Human Services
In November 2019, the Trump administration announced a new proposed Health and Human Services (HHS) rule would put the health and well-being of millions of Americans at risk. Under this new rule, LGBTQ people, women, and people of minority faiths could face discrimination by agencies that receive federal HHS grant money. This rule strips away clear non-discrimination protections, inviting discrimination and the denial of services by federally funded agencies and programs across a wide range of areas.
HHS is required to collect comments from the public about any new rule they propose. They are also required by law to read every comment submitted. So, let’s flood them with comments opposing this harmful, discriminatory rule.
SAMPLE COMMENT
The Task Force team has created sample comments you can use to inform your letter to HHS.
Example 1:
As a queer, nonbinary person of color, I am strongly opposed to the proposed changes to HHS’s grantmaking regulations because I, and my family, rely on social services for housing, food, and healthcare. Throughout my life, I have struggled to make ends meet and continue to work multiple jobs to make enough money to barely cover my living expenses. I fully financially support my family members, and we need services like temporary aid for needy families when my paycheck is not enough to cover the costs of our meals.
The Trump administration is trying to reverse non-discrimination protections and allow government-funded organizations the ability to still receive federal dollars and discriminate. I am scared for my family and my life. This proposed rule could give corporations and government entities the ability to discriminate against me just because of who I am, and the entire purpose of the Department of Health and Human Services is to promote health and provide whatever services are necessary to ensure the health of all of us living in this nation.
I strongly oppose this rule and urge HHS to consider me, my family, and my community and the potential catastrophic harm that will come to me if this rule is finalized.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED ROLL BACK OF PROTECTIONS IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services serve millions of families across the U.S. They are vitally important to their health and well-being.
HHS awards more than $500 billion in grants each year to provide critical services. These services must be available to any eligible person in need. Agencies that take government money to serve the public shouldn’t get to pick and choose whom they will serve. The National LGBTQ Task Force is organizing comments to push back against the Trump administration’s regressive proposed rulemaking.
In November of 2019, the Trump administration announced a new proposed HHS rule would put the health and well-being of millions of Americans at risk. Under this new rule, LGBTQ people, women, and people of minority faiths could face discrimination by agencies that receive federal HHS grant money.
This rule strips away clear non-discrimination protections, inviting discrimination, and the denial of services by federally funded agencies and programs across a wide range of areas. With this rule, agencies and programs that receive government funding through HHS could claim a broad license to discriminate—and it would not be limited to those who claim a religious objection to serving particular groups of people.
As part of our FedWatch program, the National LGBTQ Task Force and partners identify rule changes that have negative impacts for the most marginalized communities and organize to stop them. Donate today and help us fight back!
