The Department of Health and Human Services today announced its final "conscience rule" that excuses health care professionals from participating in procedures that they don't agree with based on religion or morals. Donald Trump announced the rule during a Rose Garden speech this morning for the National Day of Prayer.
Activists have warned that the rule could impact health care specifically for those in the LGBTQ community including those wanting gender-confirmation surgery or HIV treatment and prevention services, as well as women seeking contraception or abortion.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following statement:
"The Trump Administration's elimination of critical health care protections under the guise of so-called 'religious freedom' is a transparent and cynical ploy to discriminate against women and the LGBT community in order to score points with religious extremists. Millions of Americans—including members of the LGBT community and women—are now at risk because they will be denied access to reproductive care and other basic health services. "
