(San Francisco, CA, May 4, 2017)—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which if passed, would leave millions of Americans without health insurance, strip protections from discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, gut Medicaid, block patient access to trusted medical providers at Planned Parenthood, and undercut 30 years of progress made in fighting HIV. The Affordable Care Act provided coverage to thousands of people living with HIV by expanding Medicaid, increased coverage for low-income LGBTQ community members by expanding Medicaid eligibility, and contained groundbreaking nondiscrimination protections. For the first time ever, the Affordable Care Act banned discrimination in health care based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity,

National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell issued the following statement in response:

“Today, the House passed a bill that would rip healthcare away from millions of Americans and devastate many in the LGBTQ community. This rushed and unnecessary debacle will do nothing except deprive coverage for those who need it most, including survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, which–incredibly–it classifies as pre-existing conditions. And after 30 years of progress in fighting HIV, this plan turns back the clock and endangers those living with HIV by cutting off access to care. This bill cannot become law and as this bill heads to the Senate we urge every Senator to fight for the best interests of their constituency and vote no on this threat to the health and welfare of millions of Americans.”