Hawaii bill bans discrimination against transgender patients

[traci_k]

Hawaii bill bans discrimination against transgender patients

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/us_news/article_467bae7f-2a52-58c2-9fdc-b0984e2d8501.html

The Valley Morning Star
Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 7:59 pm | Updated: 11:09 pm, Tue Apr 26, 2016.
Associated Press



HONOLULU (AP) — Insurance companies would not be allowed to discriminate against transgender patients under a bill passed by the Hawaii Legislature.

The bill passed Tuesday by the House of Representatives prohibits denying, canceling or limiting coverage based on a person's gender identity.

"That's something that's really critical, especially now when you have states around the country moving the other direction, explicitly placing into law the ability to discriminate based on who people perceive themselves to be," said Democratic Rep. Chris Lee, who introduced the bill. "Here in Hawaii where we treat everyone with respect and aloha. We think everyone is created equal and ought to be treated the same.
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Good news for transgender Hawaiians. Although it doesn't proscribe coverage for GCS, this bill seems to go a long way in insuring equal and fair treatment for our Ohana, trans brothers and sisters.