By Lambda Legal: For Complete Post, Click Here…
Just over a week before it left power, the Trump administration finalized an unlawful rule that scrapped nondiscrimination protections, including an important clarification recognizing the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decisions. The Trump administration’s rollback of these protections left beneficiaries of and participants in federally funded programs vulnerable to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. In February of 2021, HHS agreed to a court order that immediately stayed the effective date of the rule.
Vulnerable and traditionally marginalized populations — such as children in foster care, older adults, youth experiencing homelessness, and families navigating the child welfare system — have been and, under this Rule, would have been subject to discriminatory practices from taxpayer-funded service providers and programs. Such discrimination harms beneficiaries, imposes additional barriers to service, causes significant economic costs, undermines HHS’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, and will lead to worse outcomes in HHS programs.
