The Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following statement regarding the 11th District ruling in Texas that will limit HIV prevention medication access:
The Los Angeles LGBT Center categorically condemns today’s decision by US District Judge Reed O’Connor in Texas, who ruled that requiring employers to provide coverage for PrEP violates their religious freedoms under federal law.
While the ruling is incredibly disturbing, we first want our community and allies to understand that its scope is currently limited to Braidwood, the Texas employer named in the lawsuit, and its 70 employees. It also undermines the bipartisan plans of the United States government to end HIV by 2030.
However, there are other potential implications to this ruling, which may set a dangerous precedent for how the government can support the refusal of coverage for health services based on individual religious beliefs. We must remain vigilant of this ruling being used as a precedent to deny individuals access to medications, which includes PrEP but can also be inclusive of contraceptive care. This further underscores how the fights for reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ equality are intrinsically linked.
As a community-based organization that provides social health services, we know first and foremost that there is no end to the HIV epidemic without equitable PrEP access. Any attempts to restrict or prohibit access to PrEP are dangerous, and would almost certainly result in new HIV infections. Should a ruling like this continue to go unchallenged, the most vulnerable members of our community—especially those of us who are Black, Latinx, and/or transgender—will be the most harmed.
In the wake of the federal mismanagement around the response to human monkeypox, this is yet another reminder that our community takes care of our community best. In order to meet our evolving needs, we require continued investment in telehealth and public health infrastructure around community-based organizations that provide social health services. This is what makes the Center a vital resource for the people of Los Angeles. We are in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ Texans who may be impacted by today’s news, and will work with our partners to challenge this 11th District ruling. We commit to being a safety net provider for anyone who is negatively affected by this decision.
Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.
