The Trump administration have delivered another blow to the LGBTQ community, this time through their proposed budget plans for 2019.
Laying out their plans earlier this week, the Trump-Pence budget would see over a billion dollars slashed from funding programs that support global efforts to treat, prevent and eradicate HIV/AIDS.
It comes after Trump dismissed the entire Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS towards the end of 2017.
Naturally, this latest announcement has concerned LGBTQ activists, as well as the Human Rights Campaign.
“Budget reflects your values. The Trump-Pence budget released today shows a callous disregard for critical programs that impact LGBTQ Americans,” said David Stacy, the Government Affairs Director of HRC.
“The elimination or slashing of programs related to the Affordable Care Act, HIV/AIDS, and international humanitarian projects are a direct threat to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ people here and around the world.
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“Congress must reject these harmful proposals.”
Asia Russell, the Executive Director of the Health Global Access Project, added that “if this budget passes as proposed, Donald Trump’s legacy will be millions of new and unnecessary infections and deaths – and a massive resurgence in the AIDS pandemic.”
It comes less than a month after the Trump administration announced the formation of a new division of the Office of Civil Rights that will allow discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Under the new outlines, healthcare providers will legally be able to deny medical care to LGBTQ and pregnant women based on their religious beliefs.
The head of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights, Roger Severino, has a history of actively opposing equal rights for minorities.
Essentially, the office will provide support for far right religious organisations who are against LGBTQ equality and abortion.
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