Long criticized as discriminatory, the policy has prevented many gay and bisexual men from donating blood. The Food and Drug Administration revealed a draft of its new approach on Friday.
The case suing the state for denying coverage of transgender-related health care in the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan was filed Wednesday in federal court in Atlanta on behalf of a staff accountant at the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, a school media clerk in Bibb County, and an anonymous employee of the Division of Family and Children Services on behalf of her young adult child who is enrolled in the state plan.
Though doctors and advocates have helped speed up access to the antiviral pills – of which the U.S. has enough to treat 1.7 million people – health providers are few and forms are still required.
To advance health equity, the state is requiring insurers that offer public option plans to collect demographic data on providers, including race and sexual orientation, raising privacy concerns.
A survey by The Trevor Project found that 40% of young LGBTQ people have considered suicide in the last year. The pandemic has only exacerbated mental health issues LGBTQ youth already face.
