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NEAT Virtual Town Hall: Conversion Therapy Court Decision

Once the 11th Circuit Court hands down its decision in the South Florida case, where two therapists are contesting local bans on so-called "conversion therapy," the National Equality Action Team (NEAT) will host a Virtual Town Hall the next evening at 7pm ET / 4pm PT. Being gay or bisexual is not a mental illness and should never be treated as one.

Our panel of experts will feature representatives from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality Florida, and other partner organizations. Together we will break down the ruling, explain what it means for LGBTQ+ residents throughout the 11th Circuit (Florida, Georgia, and Alabama), and lay out the next steps in this ongoing fight.

Twenty states have already banned conversion therapy, the discredited practice of trying to change a person's sexual orientation from gay or bisexual to straight through psychological or spiritual methods. Every leading medical and mental health association in the country has rejected the practice as both ineffective and harmful, warning that it does not work and can cause real damage to patients. Instead, these experts recommend that individuals and their families seek affirming therapy, social support, and educational resources that provide accurate information about sexuality and sexual orientation. With that support, LGBTQ+ young people can learn self-acceptance and gain the tools they need to thrive.

Since courts do not announce decisions in advance, the exact Town Hall date will be confirmed only once the ruling is released. RSVP to get updates as soon as the Court announces its decision. Attendees will have time for Q&A, and a recording will be shared with everyone who signs up.

Intersections: Opposing Discrimination in Healthcare

Access to healthcare in the United States is a heated subject, full of strong opinions and deep anxiety. As the pandemic spreads uncertainty around the world, the need for reliable healthcare has only grown more urgent. Reports from across the country already show that COVID-19 is hitting minority communities, including LGBTQ+ people, disproportionately hard.

Meanwhile, the administration is pushing forward with a damaging rule change to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). When the ACA became law, it included specific provisions, known as Section 1557, that barred discrimination in healthcare, including on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has now proposed a rule that would strip away these nondiscrimination protections, not only for LGBTQ+ individuals but in many other areas as well, such as pregnancy status and abortion history.

Politico reported on the impact of these changes last month, citing Center for American Progress findings that 8 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and 29 percent of transgender adults said a healthcare provider had turned them away because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The final HHS rule is now circulating within the Department of Justice and is expected to be released soon, without revisions drawn from the public comment period. Importantly, none of this changes the law as written; it creates a gray area in which providers can engage in discriminatory practices while the government responds with little more than a shrug when it comes to enforcement.

The National Center for Transgender Equality has fought these changes at every stage, and NEAT was proud to endorse a national organizational statement condemning the rule revisions and warning how weak enforcement of Section 1557 of the ACA will harm Americans. The final statement will be released soon. We all hope this troubling period of diminished humanity ends quickly, and that the government will support healthcare for everyone, especially those who are already underserved or targeted by discrimination.

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