NO TAXPAYER-FUNDED DISCRIMINATION: Oppose proposed HHS rule

THE ISSUE

The Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would allow faith-based organizations funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to deny services to LGBTQ individuals, people of color, women, Jews, Muslims, Catholics and other groups if the agencies object based on religious or moral reasons. The new rule would undo anti-discrimination protections put in place by the Obama administration. Under the new rule adoption and foster care agencies would continue to receive federal funds even if they deny applications from LGBTQ individuals, Jews, Muslims, or people of color if the agency claims placing children with those individuals violates their religious beliefs. The rule could also be expanded to any agency that receives HHS funding, including Head Start, Meals on Wheels, agencies that provide HIV/AIDS prevention, community health centers and agencies that support homeless youth. All could openly discriminate and still receive taxpayer dollars. The rule would extend nationwide a waiver the Trump administration issued in January to a South Carolina child welfare agency that only allows Christian applicants to be foster parents. The agency made headlines after it denied a foster parent application from a Jewish woman. The proposed rule was issued by HHS Secretary Alex Azar, who was confirmed by Sen. Susan Collins over objections by constituents and advocacy groups over Azar’s  anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice history. 

THE ACTION

• Submit a public comment opposing this rule by midnight THURSDAY, DEC. 19. You can use this form from the ACLU or submit a comment via Regulations.gov. If you or someone you know could be discriminated against because of this proposed rule, please share that story in your comment. 
• Call Sen. Collins and ask her what she plans to do to block the latest action against marginalized people by Azar, who she supported. Find out more about Collins’ vote for Azar in The Case Against Collins.