Hope wins

HGS backs away from anti-trans rules after receiving over 30,000 comments

The Department of Health and Human Services has backed away from a proposed rule that would have taken away Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals providing gender affirming care. After widespread public outcry with tens of thousands of comments from patients, advocates, medical professionals, and civil rights organizations, the proposal did not move forward.

But before any rule was finalized, dozens of hospitals across the country had already restricted or eliminated gender affirming care, often going far beyond what the government had actually required. Fear of political retaliation led many institutions to over comply, leaving transgender people without care even before any mandate existed.

As people of faith, we are reminded that hope is not passive. Hope speaks. Hope organizes. Hope resists fear. Hope changes the outcome.

Today, hope won. Now let us make sure transgender people receive the care, dignity, and justice they have always deserved.