On February 21, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion stating his belief that gender-affirming care for transgender youth constitutes child abuse under Texas law. Shortly thereafter, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to the Department of Family…
On January 1, 2022, there was a change in the definition of infertility in the Illinois insurance code, under the Public Act 102-0170. What is the Public Act 102-1070? Public Act 102-0170 updates the definition of infertility in Illinois to…
The 2022 Illinois Legislative Session has begun and we need your help to pass an important piece of legislation through the Senate. House Bill 2542, also known as the Name Change Modernization Bill, is vital for advancing health equity for…
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaching, one crucial way that we can uphold the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is by advocating for policies that advance racial justice and health equity. Over the next few days, the U.S….
In November, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the Build Back Better (BBB) Act. The bill now moves to the Senate, where further adjustments may be made. Here is a summary of the major healthcare and social…
On the heels of the Rittenhouse trial, Howard Brown Health feels a degree of relief for the McMichaels and Bryan verdicts for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. This outcome is just the tip of the iceberg for the healing process…
Updates on Medical Forensic Exams, Religious Exemptions for COVID Safety, and Abortion Access in Illinois Last week, the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a very busy Veto Session where a number of key legislative measures were passed, including SB 336….
Last week was a very busy week on Capitol Hill as members of Congress raced the clock to address four critical and time-sensitive issues: Government Shutdown: Congress managed to avoid a government shutdown by passing stopgap funding legislation just ahead…
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing the rights of LGBTQ people, President Biden signed the Executive Order (EO), Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation on his first day in office….
Howard Brown Health commends Governor Pritzker for his signing and support of legislation that helps ensure health equity for LGBTQ Illinoisans. Here is a look at the four important bills that the Governor signed on July 27. HB 1063: HIV…
California v. Texas The plaintiffs in this case, a group of Republican state officials, argued that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate was unconstitutional, and as a result, the entire ACA had to be struck down. The individual mandate of…
Tania Cordova grew up in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood after emigrating from Mexico in 1985. As a transgender woman, Tania’s memories of the early 90’s are full of traumatic encounters with Chicago police. “I used to go to ‘Chicks’ — a trans nightclub — on Broadway and Clark. The police would arrest everyone transgender anywhere near the club for solicitation.”