Oregon Trans Health Benefits Lawsuit Points To Prejudice
http://www.bilerico.com/2011/06/oregon_trans_health_benefits_lawsuit_points_to_pre.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2011/06/oregon_trans_health_benefits_lawsuit_points_to_pre.php)
6/22/11
Jillian T. Weiss
Alec Esquivel is suing because, according to his attorney, Dru Levasseur of Lambda Legal, the law of the State of Oregon prohibits private insurers from excluding transgender people from health benefits, but the State itself excluded Mr. Esquivel, a state employee, from health benefits because of his gender identity.
Why would the State of Oregon do that, given the irrationality of the position it is in here, where it prohibits others from doing exactly what it is doing?
Let me answer that question with another question: what is prejudice?
According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, the definition includes an "irrational attitude of hostility." I'm not saying the State of Oregon is hostile to all trans health benefits, because it clearly is not, given its leadership position with private insurers on trans health benefits. But some administrator in the State of Oregon hierarchy clearly didn't get the memo. Otherwise, a lawsuit wouldn't be necessary.