U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hubert Humphrey Building. (Public domain photo courtesy GSA)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra hosted LGBTQ leaders and organizations for a meeting on Dec. 11 featuring senior staff at the agency, “to build on the progress made in advancing health and human services equity for the community,” according to a press release.
Specifically, HHS said, the discussion concerned efforts to “increase access to health care, secure non-discrimination protections, and increase access to behavioral health for the LGBTQI+ community.”
Becerra highlighted actions including measures to improve Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data collection to better identify disparities; investments in research to address health disparities; support for youth, including through issuance of the new ASPE brief with best practices for “the needs and well-being of LGBTQI+ young people in their programs and communities”; and regulations intended to protect against anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
In attendance on Monday according to HHS were:
- Secretary Xavier Becerra, HHS
- ADM Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health
- Dr. Melanie Egorin, Assistant Secretary for Legislation
- Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director, HHS Office for Civil Rights
- Jess Smith, Acting Director, HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
- Michael Adams, CEO, SAGE USA
- Carl Baloney Vice President for Public Affairs & Chief Policy Officer, AIDS United
- Brian Bond, Executive Director, PFLAG
- Kahlib Barton-Garcon, Chief Program Officer, True Colors United
- Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director, GLSEN
- Casey Pick, Director of Law and Policy, The Trevor Project
- Alex Sheldon, Interim Executive Director, GLMA
- Kelley Robinson, President, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
- JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice-President, Policy and Political Affairs, Human Rights Campaign
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