June 2024 Advocacy and Policy Updates - Pride Edition
Table of Contents
SFCHC Joins Action=Life Rally to Protect Critical HIV Funding
LGBTQI+ Community Engagement Updates
Biden-Harris Administration Releases Key Security Resources for the LGBTQI+ Community Ahead of Pride Month
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Hosts Community Safety Webinar for LGBTQI+ Organizations
A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, 2024
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Releases Resource of Health Equity-Related Data Definitions, Standards, and Stratification Practices
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Publishes Notice for Public Comments on Potential Viral Hepatitis Quality Measures in Medicaid
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Tackles Book Bans at Manhattan Roundtable Discussion
SFCHC Joins Action=Life Rally to Protect Critical HIV Funding
With June marking the peak of the 2024 San Francisco City Budget process, SFCHC has been actively engaged in ensuring the HIV care safety net is protected!
Alongside several community partners*, SFCHC clients and staff mobilized and participated in the Action=Life Rally to demand investments in the city budget that not only address looming cuts to HIV services, but also issues such as housing and access to healthcare.
Cuts Looming. Earlier this year, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program communicated to the city of San Francisco that there would be a cut to funding estimated at $200K. This is on top of expected cuts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which sit closer to $500K. It is more important now than ever that the city of San Francisco shows up for HIV service organizations and ensure we don't move backwards in our fight to end the epidemic!
*Partners: San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s HIV Advocacy Network (HAN); HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network (HAPN); AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP); Alliance Health Project; San Francisco Getting to Zero Consortium; Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club; LYRIC; Maitri; PRC; Project Open Hand.
LGBTQI+ Community Engagement Updates
May 31, 2024
Biden-Harris Administration Releases Key Security Resources for the LGBTQI+ Community Ahead of Pride Month
Earlier today, the Biden-Harris Administration released a key security resource for the LGBTQI+ community ahead of Pride Month. Since Day One, President Biden and Vice President Harris have remained steadfast in their commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the LGBTQI+ community. The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals and has taken decisive steps to address these issues through the LGBTQI+ Community Safety Partnership, which President Biden announced in June 2023. This initiative is a cornerstone of our broader efforts to promote equality and protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The federal government maintains a broad range of resources that LGBTQI+ community members, leaders, and event organizers can draw on based on their needs. Recent actions and additional resources include:
Physical Security and Online Safety
Targeted Violence Prevention
Key Contacts
Read the full resource here.
To Report a Hate Crime: 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Hosts Community Safety Webinar for LGBTQI+ Organizations
Please join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on June 7, 2024, for a webinar aimed at equipping LGBTQIA+ organizations and their members with resources and information to enhance their individual and collective security DHS personnel from our Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will share ways to enhance the safety, security, and resilience of your communities – especially against threats and acts of targeted violence. Featuring presentations on topics including conflict prevention, active shooter awareness, personal security, and cyber hygiene, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools to ensure your safety while providing information about additional resources and training opportunities.
Please fill out the form here to register and be included in future communications about this engagement
A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, 2024
During Pride Month, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community. We reflect on the progress we have made so far in pursuit of equality, justice, and inclusion. We recommit ourselves to do more to support LGBTQI+ rights at home and around the world.
To the entire LGBTQI+ community — and especially transgender children — please know that your President and my entire Administration have your back. We see you for who you are: made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support. That is why I have taken historic action to protect the LGBTQI+ community. We are ensuring that the LGBTQI+ community is protected against discrimination when accessing health care, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Justice launched a safety partnership to provide critical training and support to the community, including resources to help report hate crimes and better protect festivals, marches, community centers, businesses, and health care providers serving the community. The Department of Education and the Department of Justice are also addressing whether book bans may violate Federal civil rights laws when they target LGBTQI+ students or students of color and create hostile classroom environments. Additionally, we are providing specialized services through the nationwide crisis hotline for LGBTQI+ youth who feel isolated and overwhelmed — anyone who needs help can call 988 and then press 3 to be connected to a professional counselor. We are committing more resources for mental health programs that help families support and affirm their kids and are starting a new Federal initiative to address LGBTQI+ homelessness. We finalized new regulations requiring States to protect LGBTQI+ kids in foster care.
America is the only Nation in the world founded on an idea: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never fully walked away from it either. This month, we recommit to realizing the promise of America for all Americans, to celebrating courageous LGBTQI+ people, and to taking pride in the example they set for our Nation and the world.
Read the full proclamation here.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Releases Resource of Health Equity Related Data Definitions, Standards, and Stratification Practices
HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a new resource on health equity data, definitions, standards, and stratification that includes updates CMS standards for race and ethnicity data elements as well as sexual orientation and gender identity data elements.
Advancing health equity and improving health equity-related data collection are priorities for the Biden-Harris Administration, as detailed in Executive Order 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), released in January 2021, and subsequent equity-focused Executive Orders, including Executive Order 14031 (Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders) released in May 2021, Executive Order 14075 (Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals), released in June 2022, and Executive Order 14091 (Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), released in February 2023. In alignment with these Executive Orders, Advance Equity is the first of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s six Strategic Pillars, highlighting the importance of addressing the health disparities that underlie the United States’ health care system.
Read the full resource here.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Publishes Notice for Public Comments on Potential Viral Hepatitis Quality Measures in Medicaid
HHS Office of Infectious Disease Policy (OIDP) has published a Federal Register Notice for Public Comments on Viral Hepatitis Quality Measures in Medicaid. Through the Federal Register Notice, OIDP is seeking feedback on a hepatitis C screening and treatment initiation measure and additional information from stakeholders on viral hepatitis quality measures. The public comment period will be open for 30 days. This follows the Viral Hepatitis Quality Measures Meeting that was held on March 7th, resulting in the consensus to prioritize the development, use, and adoption of a hepatitis C screening and treatment initiation measure. Public comments close on June 7th.
Submit a formal comment here.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Tackles Book Bans at Manhattan Roundtable Discussion
This month, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff traveled to New York City to lead a roundtable discussion at the New York Public Library in Manhattan focused on protecting students’ civil rights, including LGBTQ+ students, against the growing threat of school book bans. The afternoon event featured high school and college students alongside Matt Nosanchuk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights who monitors book bans.
These bans, often targeting LGBTQ+ themes and minority perspectives, pose a significant threat to students’ educational and civil rights.
The roundtable at NYPL is part of a broader administration effort to address the impact of book bans on student civil rights. Last June, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions to protect LGBTQ+ communities, including the appointment of a new coordinator specifically tasked with addressing the issue of book bans in schools