Recent posts
#1
Happy birthday to each of you!
Chrissy
#2
Looks like it will be a Chinese buffet meal this Friday evening.
Chrissy
#3
White House bolsters transgender health protections, rolls back Trump admin rulehttps://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/white-house-bolsters-transgender-health-protections-rolls-back-trump-admin-rule/ar-AA1nJY0w?ocid=windirect&cvid=b808de6a3fae42559df255deb930308f&ei=61Story by Nathaniel Weixel (26 April 2024)
The Biden administration is bolstering health care protections against discrimination for gay and transgender people, reversing a Trump administration rule that gutted the protections.
In a wide-ranging final rule released Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) strengthened the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) rules that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, in certain health programs and activities.
"Today's rule is a giant step forward for this country toward a more equitable and inclusive health care system, and means that Americans across the country now have a clear way to act on their rights against discrimination when they go to the doctor, talk with their health plan, or engage with health programs run by HHS," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
The rule involves protections in Section 1557 of the ACA that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability in certain health programs and activities.
Advocates were concerned that the previous policies would have made it easier for doctors, hospitals and insurance companies to deny care or coverage to transgender and nonbinary patients, as well as women who have had abortions.
#4
Last post by LoriDee - Today at 05:23:59 PM
If I were a librarian in Alabama, I would post a sign at the library entrance stating that children under a certain age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian as required by state law. Let the parents fight the legislature for you.
#5
Last post by LoriDee - Today at 05:18:53 PM
My favorite meal is breakfast. I hate cooking in the morning, and usually not very hungry then anyway. But I love breakfast foods. So I have breakfast for dinner. Tonight will be apple pancakes and eggs.
#6
Last post by LoriDee - Today at 05:17:06 PM
Beautiful scenery and yummy food.
And friends and shopping.
What a vacation! Thanks for sharing!
Be safe.
#9
Alabama just got a step closer to jailing librarians who provide LGBTQ+ bookshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alabama-just-got-a-step-closer-to-jailing-librarians-who-provide-lgbtq-books/ar-AA1nJAV6?ocid=windirect&cvid=763934452a144e7badcd4a9780885850&ei=81Story by Daniel Villarreal (26 April 2024)
Alabama's legislature is advancing two censorious anti-LGBTQ bills: H.B. 130 would ban LGBTQ+ flags in classrooms and expand the state's "Don't say gay" law to include grades 6-8; H.B. 385 would jail librarians for giving "sexual or gender-oriented material" to minors without parental consent. Both bills were approved in the Alabama House of Representatives this week and now head to the state's Republican-led upper legislative chamber.
Alabama's current "Don't Say Gay" law says that K-5 classrooms "shall not engage in classroom discussion or provide classroom instruction regarding sexual orientation or gender identity in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." H.B. 130 would also remove the section "in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards," banning LGBTQ+ discussions completely.
The H.B. 130 expansion, which passed the state House on Tuesday, would expand the law to include grades 6-8 and also prohibit "flags symbolizing sexual orientations or gender identities" in all grade school levels.
The ACLU of Alabama has spoken against the law, saying that it would silence "inclusive" and "essential" discussions among students and teachers in classrooms while violating their First Amendment rights to free speech.
