Should transgender people be included under federal protections forbidding sex discrimination in health care?
Reversing policy in line with court ruling
The Trump-era decision banning gay and transgender people from health care went against state and federal law. It’s hard to see how this policy wasn’t implemented as an attempt to appeal to Evangelical Christians, a significant group of his supporters, who have a more narrow view of gender identity being assigned at birth. Religion should not be used to justify legislation, but that is exactly what the Trump administration chose to do.
A person’s gender, race, sexuality, religious beliefs, or physical appearance should never preclude them from receiving the same level of care and protection as other Americans. Fear of discrimination can have serious consequences on a person’s health which also means lack of adequate care can lead to far more substantial costs to provide critically necessary health care. The decision to reverse the former policy is in line with a Supreme Court ruling regarding a workplace discrimination case last year. As our society continues to evolve, policies and what we need to do to protect everyone should do the same. — John Hunigan
Gender not relevant to health care
If this means health care in general, I thought there was already a law that ERs and hospitals had to accept all PEOPLE who are ill, injured or suffering regardless of their ability to pay. If it only applies to federally funded health care, it’s a different issue. I’m going to assume “in general.” I’ve needed a lot of health care recently; I’ll turn the question around. Do any of us ask the health care provider about anything other than, “Are you qualified and competent? Can you help me?” Should the health care provider ask anything other than, “Are you a human being who needs my help?” The only gender related questions should have to do with the ailment/illness/injury and the form of treatment required to fix it. If the person’s history (former gender) is relevant to the treatment that would also make sense; under no circumstances should it mean exclusion from receiving health-care service. – Charlie Gruner
Transgender people deserve every health care right
It’s appalling that there is even a question as to whether or not LGBTQ+ individuals should have federal protections in general, let alone protection in health care. Receiving proper health care can literally be a life or death situation, and it shouldn’t be denied to anyone. People do not choose to be transgender, people do not choose to be gay, the only thing they choose is to live their life authentically. The Civil Rights Act makes it clear that people should be protected against discrimination based on things they do not have control over, and that should include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Transgender people deserve every right to be able to walk into any medical office and know that they will not be treated differently. Most importantly, they deserve every right to simply exist without random people arguing over whether or not they should be treated equally and be protected under the law. — Meghan Harms
Federal regs might help, but likely also overreach
This subject almost always brings forth more passionate emotions than calm information, but an internet search reveals several key issues.
First, there are the micro-offenses of smiling or laughing that embarrass individuals, making visits to doctor’s offices so uncomfortable that the individuals do not return for proper care.
This includes staff refusing to use the preferred name or pronoun.
Second, transsexuals often have specific problems — weight, psychological stress, undeveloped social skills — that need special attention by trained professionals.
Third, hormone therapy and surgery involve expensive interventions that insurance companies are reluctant to cover. On this I’ll risk the hostile emails — we should not provide either for minors. This is a decision that only adults should make for themselves.
Lastly, the emotional turmoil is real. Of course, so are everyone else’s emotions during puberty. Growing up is tough.
Federal regulations might help, but would probably overreach —i t’s that kind of issue. — William Urban
Potential exists for abuse of transgender identity
Gender dysphoria is a recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition as a clinically significant distress or impairment. As such, it should be treated in accordance with generally accepted psychological principles.
My concern is with the potential abuse of transgender identity. For instance, the California prison system has reported a significant increase in the number of male prisoners who are seeking to identify as female for the purpose of being transferred to a women’s prison facility.
There are other instances where biological males have identified as female when their motives may be to gain a competitive advantage in a sport or other activity rather than as a result of genuine gender dysphoria.
Real medical problems should be covered for people regardless of their sexual orientation or identity, but public money should not be spent for people who are attempting to game the system. — Harry Bulkeley
All humans should have same rights
Regardless of what choices or decisions people make they are human at the end of the day. You have to be some type of heartless person to deny another human being basic human rights because of something you disagree with. I don’t understand why as adults we can’t agree to disagree on things and still have respect. Gender and sexual equality have been a hot topic for about a decade, possibly longer.
Not to sound insensitive, but because I believe that all humans should have the same rights, I can’t help but say there’s other things that need to be addressed. I’m glad the country is addressing these issues, but why are any groups or ethnicities fighting for basic human rights? That’s what I want to know? — Courtney Wallace
Court decided protections include transgender people
Signed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act included protections against sexual discrimination in healthcare. These protections stood until June 2020, when Donald Trump’s administration issued a rule reversing those provisions of the law that included civil rights protections in health care covering sexual orientation and gender identity. However, also in June of 2020, the United States Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration affirming that a longstanding federal law barring workplace discrimination protects gay and transgender employees. In announcing the Biden administration’s restoration of the original protections, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said, referring to the June Supreme Court decision and subsequent court decisions, “The Supreme Court has made it clear that people have a right not to be discriminated against on the basis of sex and to receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.” “It’s unfortunate that such an obvious step had to be taken; the AMA welcomes this common sense understanding of the law,” said Susan Bailey, the American Medical Association president. I welcome it as well. — Laurie Muelder
The Community Roundtable runs each Friday and is made up of local writers. Community writers answer one question each week in 150 words or fewer.
