HRC: Trump budget shows callous disregard for programs that impact LGBTQ Americans

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization, called President Donald Trump's fiscal 2019 proposed budget dangerous and irresponsible.

“Budgets reflect your values. The Trump-Pence budget released today shows a callous disregard for critical programs that impact LGBTQ Americans,” David Stacy, HRC’s government affairs director, said in a news release.

He added, “The elimination or slashing of programs related to the Affordable Care Act, HIV/AIDS and international humanitarian projects are a direct threat to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ people here and around the world. Congress must reject these harmful proposals.”

The budget proposal released Feb. 12 includes what HRC called inadequate funding for vital services and programs that are essential to LGBTQ people. Specifically, the budget would:

• Repeal the Affordable Care Act, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would lead to 15 million people losing access to quality healthcare.

• Cut domestic HIV/AIDS programs, despite growing needs. The budget eliminates Special Programs of National Significance.

• Cut well over a billion dollars in funding for global HIV programs.

• Eliminate the evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program while promoting harmful and discredited abstinence-only-until-marriage funding.

• Cut $500 million from the Migration and Refugee Assistance program.

• Gut the Department of Justice Community Relations Service by cutting funding and transferring to DOJ Civil Rights Division, which eliminates its independence which is critical to its mission.