Statement
The Department of Human Services (HHS) new rule is yet another obscene attack on Transgender, LGBQ, HIV-positive communities and women across the country. Today HHS issued a “conscience rule” excusing health care personnel from participating in procedures to which they have religious or “moral” objections.
The quality and availability of healthcare people receive should not be governed by who you are or who you love. Today’s actions from the White House undermine our values and laws by giving health care providers and insurance companies a broad license to discriminate, allowing them to deny medically necessary healthcare for millions across the country, including transgender individuals.
No one can turn back the clock on San Francisco, not even the federal government.
No one can turn back the clock on San Francisco, not even the federal government. As City for all, San Francisco will continue to protect our communities from discrimination and will stand united against this shameful rule.
Access to preventive and necessary health services is a basic human right. San Francisco has long promoted this right and will continue to provide comprehensive healthcare for all. We will ensure to invest in training programs that support our providers in giving full care to all San Franciscans and guarantee healthcare through programs like Healthy San Francisco. Healthy SF serves uninsured city residents including women, immigrants, and LGBTQ communities of all ages and all backgrounds.
San Francisco is proud of our culture of inclusive and comprehensive health care, regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Religious freedom doesn’t mean carte blanche to discriminate. We will continue to promote our values and ensure healthcare is available to all.