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On November 1, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new rule that would strip discrimination protections from nearly all programs that receive Health and Human Services grants—including adoption and foster care, childcare programs, and much more. This would mean that LGBTQ+ youth and adults, children of LGBTQ+ parents, and (in the case of adoption and foster care) also people who are religious minorities or nonreligious, could be turned away from receiving necessary services.

For example:

  • Adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to place a child in foster care with a same-sex couple, an LGBTQ+ family member, a single dad, or a Jewish family—reducing the number of homes available to the 437,000 youth in America’s foster care system.

  • A child-placing agency could refuse to work with parents who don’t share their religious beliefs.

  • Children in foster care who are LGBTQ+ could be denied needed healthcare and support services.

  • Children of LGBTQ+ parents could be turned away from childcare programs.

  • After school programs could refuse to serve children of single mothers or LGBTQ+ parents.

  • After school programs could exclude trans youth.

  • Community meal programs designed to support older adults could refuse to deliver food to older LGBTQ+ Americans.

On November 19, the 30-day public comment period began. This means that we only have one month to create a wave of opposition to this proposed rule.

For more information about this rule, click here.

In your comment, consider including the following information:

  • Explain why you think protecting LGBTQ people and families, women, religious minorities, and nonreligious Americans from discrimination is important.

  • Explain why you think providers’ personal beliefs should not be prioritized over the needs of children in care, seniors, and other vulnerable communities.

  • Ask HHS to abandon this rule, and keep existing nondiscrimination rules in place that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion.

To learn more about how to oppose finalization of this rule, email jkruse@familyequality.org  Click here for a toolkit with talking points and social media opposing the rule.”