Donald Trump's administration has, on Friday, June 12, finalized a regulation that overturns Obama-era prevention to sex discrimination in health care and health insurance.
- Jun 13, 2020
AceShowbiz - Ariana Grande and Gabrielle Union have condemned the revoking of transgender health protections. Shortly after Donald Trump's administration reversed Obama-era ruling that prevented sex discrimination in health care, the "Rain on Me" singer and the former "America's Got Talent" judge joined many in expressing their disgust.
Grande brought the announcement to her followers' attention on Instagram Story, and wrote over two of her posts, "DISGUSTING" and "F**KING. DISGUSTING." Sharing similar sentiment, Union, whose step-daughter Zaya Wade has come out as a transgender female, turned to Twitter to declare, "This cannot stand!!!!!!!!!"
Attacking Trump for the new regulation were "The L Word: Generation Q" star Jennifer Beals and former "Ugly Betty" actor Michael Urie. "ENRAGING. This monstrosity during #PrideMonth. Holding a rally in #Tulsa on #Juneteenth. The wink and the whistles are loud. #VoteOutHate #TransLivesMatter #BlackLivesMattter," she tweeted, while he wrote, "He goes to Tulsa on Juneteenth. He rolls back transgender patients' rights during pride. These are not coincidences."
A number of politicians have also spoken against the new rule. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called it "inhumane," whereas New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaimed, "At a time when there is so much violence against trans people, it is abhorrent that the Trump admin is stripping away critical health protections. Reminder: Under NYS law, discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression is ILLEGAL. NY will keep fighting."
Likewise, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) stated that "this ruling encourages discrimination by stripping protections from LGBTQ people, disabled people, and others during a pandemic that threatens the most vulnerable." The organization further deemed the move "shameful, unnecessary, and unfortunately unsurprising."
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act "prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs and activities." During President Barack Obama's term, an interpretation ruling that include prohibition against gender identity discrimination was enacted in 2016.
On Friday, June 12, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the elimination of "certain provisions of the 2016 Rule." The HHS further declared that it "will enforce Section 1557 by returning to the government's interpretation of sex discrimination according to the plain meaning of the word 'sex' as male or female and as determined by biology."
