Discrimination

4th Circuit: Gender Identity Is A Protected Characteristic, Blocks State Coverage Bans

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that bans on transgender care by Medicaid and state plans are unconstitutional, recognizing transgender people as a protected class and declaring such exclusions as discriminatory based on gender identity and sex. This decision upholds lower court rulings against North Carolina and West Virginia, which had denied gender-affirming care to transgender state employees and Medicaid recipients, dismissing state arguments that the exclusions applied equally to all individuals.

Outside photo of the 4th Circuit US Court of Appeals in Richmond, VA

Read the full article here:
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/4th-circuit-gender-identity-is-a

Massive Defeat For Anti-Trans And Anti-LGBTQ+ Riders In Spending Bill As Dems Hold Firm

The recent spending bill introduced by Congress, which is designed to prevent a government shutdown, managed to omit most of the conservative policy riders aimed at limiting LGBTQ+ protections, including those against gender-affirming care and transgender athletes. Amidst significant negotiations and Republican efforts to enforce these provisions, the final bill includes just one anti-LGBTQ+ policy—a restriction on displaying pride flags on foreign embassy buildings, marking a significant victory for Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates.

Read the article here:
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/massive-defeat-for-anti-trans-and

Photo of the United States Capitol Building

Bias Reporting Tool, 2022 Annual Community Report

The Bias Reporting Tool is for sharing incidents of bias including racism, sexism, ableism, discrimination of any form or other behaviors that do not reflect the prioritization of inclusion and equity expected in all areas of our community.

Here’s a link to the Huddle Article: https://huddle.uwmedicine.org/incidents-of-bias-reported-this-year-2022/?mkt_tok=MTMxLUFRTy0yMjUAAAGOvt71B0S2Sk_MiEoNrRiJ-NkilGLN3F0AaeEYicdk_Xh4qy_ggFeNMBdno2O5yE_JHyNzaPPv0maICRArVrhxU0T6g-nTxYKJBaqwrPiUWbKF-XpB

Here’s the direct link to the community report: https://equity.uwmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BRT__2022-ACR_Final.pdf 

Endometrial Cancer and Reproductive Justice

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. Black individuals with EC have had a more than 90% higher 5-year mortality risk than White people while being subject to lower quality care across the entire disease process. In this commentary, I offer the perspective that EC is part of the reproductive justice movement, as a representation of threat to reproductive health independent of childbearing. With this work, I want to place EC squarely among the discursive arguments that reproductive justice makes in the interconnectedness of fertility, reproductive health, parenthood, and, ultimately, life.

Doll, Kemi M. MD, MSCR. Endometrial Cancer and Reproductive Justice. Obstetrics & Gynecology 142(3):p 477-480, September 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005305

Read the article here: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2023/09000/endometrial_cancer_and_reproductive_justice.6.aspx

Discrimination in LGBTQIA+ Health Care

From moneygeek.com:

Navigating the health care system isn’t easy. With complicated insurance terms, overworked doctors and year-long wait times to get appointments, seeing your doctor can be challenging. This difficulty increases tenfold for specific marginalized communities — such as the LGBTQIA+ community.

LGBTQIA+ patients face blatant discrimination in health care, including access to fewer providers and uninformed doctors. To reach a place of equitable health care for LGBTQIA+ individuals, much work still needs to be done. Proper training for doctors and medical staff and putting laws in place that protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ privacy are some ways health care can be improved.

In this guide, we’ll look at some LGBTQIA+ patients’ struggles, review equitable health care improvements and solutions and provide various resources for finding care.