Criticizing the announced rule that will weaken protections for transgender people in health care, Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, called the administration’s latest move only the latest attempt to use undermine the rights of LGBTQ+ people by using religious freedom as a license to discriminate:

“The Trump administration’s proposed rule poses a direct threat to the health and wellbeing of millions of patients. Discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, medical history or any other reason has no place in our healthcare system.

“This proposed rule is only the latest iteration of the Trump administration’s campaign to undermine the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and women, using religious freedom as a wedge. The First Amendment protects our private spiritual lives, ensuring that every American can believe and worship as we choose, with one key one restriction: religious freedom cannot be used to deny the civil rights of others.

“We reject efforts by this administration to redefine religious freedom to permit health care providers to opt out of federal civil rights laws or impose their religious beliefs on the patients in their care. We urge people of conscience to raise the alarm during the 60-day public comment period about this profound threat to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our nation.”

Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.