Fighting the good fight: Trans health advocacy

by Abra Cullen
Staff Writer

Very soon it could become legal for health care providers to refuse service to a person simply because they are trans. Providers can do so by “religious freedom.”

With the introduction of the Department of Conscience and Religious Freedom within the HHS, trans health could suffer.

Luckily, some organizations are doing everything in their power to stop this.

According to The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), transgender people should have access to quality healthcare and should not be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions, including gender dysphoria.

“NCTE worked for years to achieve rules explaining the ACA’s protections for trans people [Section 1557],” said Harper Jean Tobin of NCTE. “We are mobilizing along with groups like the American Medical, Psychological and Psychiatric Associations and thousands of patients across the country against the Trump administration’s harmful initiatives.”

Tobin said NCTE is currently working to oppose the HHS’ latest attempt to deny trans rights.

“NCTE is fighting the Department of Health and Human Services proposal, which would promote refusal of care because a patient is transgender, seeking HIV care or seeking care such as PrEP to prevent HIV.

“Our research shows that health care barriers disproportionately impact transgender people of color. Black, Latin, American Indian and multiracial respondents in the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey were more likely than their white counterparts to avoid seeking health care due to cost or fear of discrimination, and more likely to be uninsured.”

Tobin added in closing, “NCTE has worked to protect the coverage and civil rights protections in the ACA, expand access to insurance and care, promote the inclusion of transition-related care as primary health care in community health centers and support the health advocacy efforts of our state and local partners.”

On the local level, there are organizations offering care directly to trans people.

Kelley Blair, executive director at the Diversity Center of Oklahoma in OKC said they are currently working to expand services to include primary health care provided by Diversity Family Health to better cater to trans individuals.

The Gayly. March 23, 2018. 9:58 a.m. CST.