LGBTQ news and entertainment
We all know Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (above) has a long history of being a vaccine denier.
Now there are reports – confirmed by a Health and Human Services spokesman – that officials at the Food and Drug Administration have blocked publication of multiple studies showing the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 and other vaccines. Continue reading “FDA Blocked Release Of Studies Showing Safety Of COVID Vaccines”
Some news items you might have missed:
• Gayety: The Boy Scouts of America has filed a formal opposition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against Queer Scout, a new LGBTQ+ travel service (lead photo). Essentially, the Boy Scouts claim the word “scout” belongs to them. Continue reading “Boy Scouts Take Aim At LGBTQ Travel Co. + More News”
LGBTQ activists organized a die-in in front of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protest the Trump Administration’s dangerous cuts to HHS programs. Continue reading “Demonstrators Hold ‘Die-In’ At HHS Over Cuts To LGBTQ Health”
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new “guidance” in support Donald Trump’s anti-transgender executive orders declaring there are only two sexes: male and female. Continue reading “New Health & Human Services Anti-Transgender ‘Guidance’ – Trans People Do Not Exist”
Vaccine skeptic and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the country’s next Secretary of Health and Human Services. Continue reading “Anti-Vaxxer RFK Jr. Confirmed As Health Secretary In 52-48 Senate Vote”
In a party line vote, the Senate Finance Committee voted to forward the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services. Continue reading “Senate Committee Advances RFK’s HHS Nomination”
Donald Trump has announced environmental attorney and anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Continue reading “Trump Picks RFK Jr. For Health/Human Services Secretary”
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (image via Twitter)
The Biden administration said Monday it would provide protections against discrimination in health care based on gender identity and sexual orientation, reversing a policy of its predecessors that had been a priority for social conservatives and had infuriated civil liberties advocates.
The reversal is a victory for transgender people and undoes what had been a significant setback in the movement for LGBTQ rights.
The shift pertains to health-care providers and other organizations that receive funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. Civil rights groups had said the Trump policy would allow health-care workers and institutions, as well as insurers, to deny services to transgender individuals.
Today’s update was made in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. That decision affirmed federal nondiscrimination protections in employment and said that sex discrimination includes discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Research shows that one-quarter of LGBTQ people who faced discrimination postponed or avoided receiving needed medical care for fear of further discrimination. In a statement, American Medical Association president Susan R. Bailey applauded the move:
“The Biden administration did the right thing by terminating a short-lived effort to allow discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation when seeking health care.
“As we said in our letter to the previous administration, the interpretation was contrary to the intent and the plain language of the law. It’s unfortunate that such an obvious step had to be taken; the AMA welcomes this common-sense understanding of the law.
“This move is a victory for health equity and ends a dismal chapter in which a federal agency sought to remove civil rights protections.”
Dr. Rachel Levine (image via Twitter)
“Her qualifications as a physician and Surgeon General of Pennsylvania and her experience dealing with the public health issues affecting our country today made her an incredibly qualified candidate for this position. Our country will be in good hands as we face unprecedented health challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to the epidemic of opioid addiction and the longstanding HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings:
“The Senate’s confirmation of Dr. Levine marks the return of science, competence, and empathy to one of the most important institutions in our government and at one of the most critical public health moments in our nation’s history. Throughout her impressive career as a doctor and public servant, Dr. Levine has demonstrated a commitment to equity in health care and an understanding of how public health is inextricably linked to social justice.”
And Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute, said the following about her confirmation:
“President Biden committed to appointing our nation’s most qualified leaders to tackle the pandemic and he delivered in choosing Dr. Levine.
“Yet the importance of this moment extends well-beyond the health of our nation alone. At a time when hateful politicians are weaponizing trans lives for their own perceived political gain, Dr. Levine’s confirmation lends focus to the contributions trans people make to our nation and deflates absurd arguments calling for their exclusion.
“Her experience leading the health department in Pennsylvania will serve our country well and her unique perspective regarding healthcare for trans people will be invaluable.”
History made: Dr. Rachel Levine was just confirmed as the next Assistant Secretary for Health, becoming the first-ever openly transgender federal official confirmed by the Senate.
Trans people are leaders, innovators and change-makers — and we deserve a seat at every table. pic.twitter.com/bNotSqaWDu
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 24, 2021
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (image via Twitter)
Eleven Senate Republicans announced their opposition to President Biden’s nominee for health secretary ahead of his confirmation hearings before two committees this week.
The senators, led by Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), urged Biden in a letter to withdraw the nomination of Xavier Becerra, California’s attorney general, arguing he is unqualified to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The senators wrote that Becerra has “no meaningful experience in health care, public health, large-scale logistics, or any other areas critical to meeting our present challenges.”
The letter was also signed by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Four years ago, Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary when she had no experience whatsoever in as an educator. Not a single Republican brought up lack of experience then. Dr. Ben Carson, noted neurosurgeon, was nominated for, and became, HUD Secretary with no experience in housing or urban development. Again, not a single GOPer made a peep over that.
I find it odd that the GOP's top attack on Becerra for HHS is that he's not a medical doctor. There have been 12 secretaries of HHS since it became HHS in 1980. # of MD's who have held the position: 3.
— julie rovner (@jrovner) February 22, 2021