a Democratic Party Members of Parliament from new hampshire The only thing that is frowned upon is LGBTQMPs who support + army strip spending package health care access from transgender Children of military personnel.
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Congressman Chris Pappas is openly gay and serves as co-chair. LGBTQ+The Congressional Equality Caucus was one of a bipartisan group of 281 members of Congress who voted in favor of the $895.2 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday. The law includes provisions restricting gender-affirming care for minors. Pappas is the only LGBTQ+ lawmaker to support the bill. Notably, his vote was unnecessary for the bill’s passage, as 140 members voted against it, giving it a clear majority.
The Equality Caucus is chaired by: wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan criticized the House for passing the bill. In a statement released Wednesday, Pocan said, “Our service members should not worry about whether Congress will allow their children to receive the medical care that parents, doctors, and mental health professionals deem necessary. “We should focus on keeping the country safe.” Speaker Johnson is playing politics with the health of military children by intervening in their personal medical decisions and overriding their families’ choices, leaving service members and their families to pay the price. It’s the children. ”
This controversial provision prohibits Tricare, the military’s health insurance program, from covering gender-affirming care for transgender children under 18, while still providing the same coverage for cisgender children. Treatment is permitted. Medical experts such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics say gender reassignment care is evidence-based, medically necessary, and supported by all major medical and mental health associations in the United States. I’m emphasizing it. of of the United States Supreme Court The justices are currently deliberating Is Tennessee’s law prohibiting such care for minors constitutional? in United States vs. Scumetti.
Pappas defended his vote in a statement, saying: defender“I strongly oppose the rider that Chairman Johnson included in the NDAA that limits coverage for military families. I will continue to fight for full equality for all members of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender Americans. And my record in Congress shows that.”
In 2019, Pappas criticized then-President. donald trump To ban transgender people from military service, he wrote: Twitter“I joined the military…” [and] House members stand up against discriminatory ban barring transgender Americans from serving. Trump administration in April. The US wants to enforce this un-American ban and politicize it to the detriment of the military. It has to stop. ” He also helped reintroduce the Equality Act, a law that seeks to update federal civil rights law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Mr. Pappas has also worked to address the “don’t ask, don’t tell” tradition by introducing legislation to guarantee veterans benefits to LGBTQ+ veterans and establishing the LGBTQ+ Veterans Advisory Council. Additionally, he led an effort to ban LGBTQ+ panic defenses in federal court.
“This is an important piece of legislation that defines our nation’s national defense and gives junior enlisted personnel a 14.5 rating.” [percent] We will raise money, invest in military housing, and provide major support to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in my district,” Pappas said of his recent vote. “My vote reflects my support for priorities vital to my district and our national defense.”
The NDAA now heads to the Senate, where Democrats are expected to try to remove the transgender ban before sending the bill to the president. joe biden. Biden has repeatedly promised to “support” transgender children. It’s unclear whether he will sign the bill, which includes anti-trans health care provisions.
The White House did not respond. defender’s Questions about Biden’s intention to veto the bill, citing discriminatory legislation that attacks transgender children and their parents.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
