We received big news from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today. HHS announced a number of efforts it was either taking or recommending to the president to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. These efforts include prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity within the department and in the administration of HHS programs, increasing collection of health related data on sexual orientation and gender identity, and LGBT cultural competency trainings for health professionals. It takes a broad array of support to keep our communities healthy, and we applaud HHS for taking this important step! Read the Transgender Law Center's press release on this historic announcement below.
Health and Human Services Announces Efforts to End Health-Related Inequities for Transgender Americans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2011 Media Contacts: Kristina Wertz, Legal Director, Transgender Law Center (Washington, D.C.), April 1, 2011 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a number of steps it was taking or recommending to the President to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. HHS announced that they will prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in within the department and in the administration of HHS programs, increase the number of health surveys that collect sexual orientation and gender identity data, and encourage health profession training programs to include LGBT cultural competency.
The Transgender Law Center praises Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for these important steps to level the playing field for transgender Americans. These changes affect a broad swath of federal programming including health care services, social service programs, and government and private research. By working to eliminate discrimination across the nation in the services that make up our country's vital safety net, HHS has taken a critical step toward equality for transgender people.
"We applaud Secretary Sebelius for acting with fairness and equity," said Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center. "We hope that the announcement today will go a long way in ending the life threatening discrimination that transgender people and others who do not fit narrow gender stereotypes face every day. We look forward to continuing to work with the administration to respond to the health-related needs of all Americans - including transgender Americans - and ensure equal access to federal health programs for everyone."
Unfortunately, a startling number of transgender and gender non-conforming Californians continue to face discrimination, harassment and unemployment directly linked to their gender identity and/or expression. The Transgender Law Center views this as the first in many steps to change this reality. To that end, we call on other federal agencies, including the Department of Labor, to adopt similar policies protecting the people they serve.
Eliminating discrimination based on gender identity and expression is at the core of ensuring that transgender Americans are able to thrive. In California, the Transgender Law Center is working to pass the Gender Nondiscrimination Act, which would clarify existing law by elevating gender identity and expression to their own protected categories in all areas of Californian law.
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The Transgender Law Center is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. The Transgender Law Center uses direct legal services, education, community organizing, and advocacy to transform California into a state that recognizes and supports the needs of transgender people and their families. www.TransgenderLawCenter.org.
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