LGBTQ Victory Institute President & CEO Annise Parker released the following statement in response to a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule that would allow health workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people because of supposed moral or religious objections:
“Today the Trump administration opened the door to widespread discrimination against LGBTQ people seeking health services – an alarming move that exemplifies HHS Civil Rights Director Severino’s total disregard for improving healthcare in America,” said Annise Parker, President & CEO of Victory Institute. “Severino is an anti-LGBTQ activist who has long fought against equality for our community, ignoring science and reality to justify his crusade. His politicization of healthcare takes us down a dangerous path that will harm not just the LGBTQ community, but other communities targeted by those opposed to equality. Yet he is just one of many anti-LGBTQ activists appointed to the Trump administration, despite almost no LGBTQ people appointed to key departments or positions. Personnel is policy, and the lack of LGBTQ perspectives and voices in this administration inevitably leads to policies that target and harm our community.”
During the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Victory Institute’s Presidential Appointments Project helped place and support more than 400 LGBTQ political appointees.
