For Immediate Release
April 28, 2004
Contact: Donald Hitchcock, (202) 797-3516

NATIONAL COALITION FOR LGBT HEALTH OPPOSES EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HEALTH CARE DISCRIMINATION IN MICHIGAN
Bill Raises Awareness About Unique Health Care Concerns of LGBT Community

Washington, DC - The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health today strongly condemned the "Conscientious Objector Policy Act", recently passed by the Michigan House and awaiting the Michigan Senate approval. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected under the Michigan Civil Rights Act. If passed, the bill will allow doctors to refuse to treat lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients based on moral, ethical and/or religious beliefs.

"In addition to having the same basic health needs as the general population, LGBT Americans have increased health disparities due to continuing provider discrimination and lack of knowledge related to sexual orientation or gender identity, a fact confirmed by a growing body of scientific and social research," argued Martin Ornelas-Quintero, Co-Chair of the Coalition. "This bill codifies discrimination against an entire class of persons, therefore increasing the barriers faced by our communities, enshrining homophobia into healthcare, and ultimately hurting Michigan citizens."

"Years of stigma and prejudice impact both the health of the LGBT community and the ability of health care providers to improve the wellness of their patients," explained Eugenia Handler, Co-Chair of the Coalition. "Legislative action to deny health care coverage to any segment of the nation's population is a very dangerous precedent to set, and if it passes the Michigan Senate, I hope that Governor Granholms of Michigan stops this legislation from becoming law."

The bill also puts at risk access to birth control devices, emergency contraception, and hormonal therapy. A diverse group of community organizations are working to stop this dangerous bill including the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, Planned Parenthood, the Michigan chapter of the ACLU, and others. The bill is supported by mostly conservative religious organizations, such as the Michigan Catholic Conference.


RELEVANT LINKS
http://www.michigan.gov/gov
http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/billintroduced/senate/pdf/2004-SIB-0972.pdf
http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/0404/21/a09-128661.htm
http://www.lsj.com/opinions/editorials/040328_ed2_(health)_12a.html
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=13224
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/04/042204MichMed.htm
http://www.micatholicconference.org/home/home.html


The National Coalition for LGBT Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals through federal advocacy that is focused on research, policy, education and training. The Coalition, founded on October 14, 2000 by some 50 national, state and local organizations, is dedicated to bringing together the rich diversity of the LGBT community at a national level ñ across gender/gender identity, race/ethnicity, disability, education, income, age and geography.