Xavier Becerra Secretary at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | LinkedIn
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), issued a final rule to affirm nondiscrimination in HHS-funded programs and services. The Health and Human Services Grants Regulation (HHS Grants Rule) Final Rule was announced to protect LGBTQI+ individuals by explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in specific health and human services programs. This move is in line with the Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. 644 (2020).
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emphasized, "The Health and Human Services Grants Regulation (HHS Grants Rule) Final Rule protects LGBTQI+ people by clarifying and reaffirming the prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex – including sexual orientation and gender identity – in specific health and human services programs."
Furthermore, the final rule solidifies these protections across various HHS programs, encompassing a wide range of services and grants aimed at assisting different vulnerable populations. According to the department, "The final rule confirms these protections in specific HHS programs, including services and grants that provide aid to refugees, early childhood education services, assistance to people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and prevention, community mental health services, maternal and child health services, and community services."
The final rule document can be accessed for viewing or download at: [https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-08880/health-and-human-services-grants-regulation](https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-08880/health-and-human-services-grants-regulation)
