News

Obama Health Care Reform Bill Leaves Out Core Gay Provisions

While the Administration and Congressional Democrats Continue to Make Sweetheart Deals to Gather Crucial Votes for Obama-care, Gay Issues are Cast Aside - Again

March 20, 2010

(Washington, DC)  – As Congress prepares to cast a critical vote on the future of the Obama Health Care Reform Bill, the version put forward by the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats lacks the key gay provisions that the House version had passed in late 2009.

"It is disheartening to see the Democratic congressional majority continue to sideline gay agenda items  – especially critical health care issues  – in the name of political expediency," commented Terry W. Hamilton, National Board Chairman of Log Cabin Republicans. "How much longer do they expect gays and lesbians to support them as they continue to take a pass on every opportunity to support our community?"

Charles T. Moran, National Spokesperson for Log Cabin Republicans continued, saying "From the "Cornhusker Kickback" to the "Louisiana Purchase", the Administration has sold all sorts of sweetheart deals to get this proposal rammed through Congress while it continues to sell the gay community down the river. Once again, our supposed great ally and their enablers at Gay Inc. have failed our community."

Some of the key gay provisions that were jettisoned by the Democratic leadership in the Senate and the Administration include:

• A prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in providing heath care
• Enabling people with HIV and low incomes to obtain Medicare coverage earlier in the course of their illness
• Eliminating the tax that gay employees must pay if their same-sex partners or spouses receive heath coverage from their employers' plan
• A provision to collect data towards the goal of ending disparities in health care for gay people

While the President has met with members from the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss inclusion of specific items pertinent to their communities in the legislation, no such offer was made to the gay Congressional Equality Caucus.