By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Liberal lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee passed a bill that will require federal health officials to question anyone, including children, who seeks services from federal community health centers to state their sexual orientation and “gender identity.”
Human Events is reporting that the new bill, H.R. 6109, was introduced by the lesbian lawmaker Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to obtain, retain and analyze sexual identity information from all patients seeking healthcare at their facilities. This includes children who use school-based health centers who would be asked whether or not they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or if they know their gender identity.
“This bill is about collecting data, no more, no less,” Baldwin said.
She claims the current “lack of cultural competency” among federal officials means that “we are left with gaping holes in our knowledge on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) policy” resulting in “significant health disparities.”
Baldwin’s bill stipulates that all information would be provided on a voluntary basis and that none of the data would be used “in any manner that adversely affects the individual.” She also states that a similar provision is included in the new health care reform law.
The controversial legislation is already causing a stir. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), top Republican on the committee, issued a press release in which he called thebill grossly intrusive.
“For the life of me I do not see any reason at all to do this bill,” Barton said. “It would require any individual who seeks services from any program offered by HHS to answer questions about their sexual orientation and gender identity. While I assume most adults understand and know what that is, it is inconceivable that a child in a program would even know what some of the terms mean.”
Committee members voted along party lines with 12 Democrats voting yes and 10 Republicans voting no. One Democrat, Rep. Zack Space (D-OH) is said to have “hastily exited” the hearing room just as the bill was called up for consideration in order to avoid casting a vote.
An aide to Rep. Space denies the accusation, saying his boss fled the room in a hurry because he “had to in three places at once.”
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