FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2021
CONTACT: Jack Cardinal, (781) 960-5208
(BOSTON, MA) – Today, Arkansas lawmakers voted to override Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto on House Bill 1570, enacting an unprecedented criminalization of gender-affirming health care shown to drastically improve the mental health and wellbeing of trans youth. Arkansas is the first state to issue such a ban, but more than two dozen states are considering similar legislation. This rise of transphobic legislation comes as NBC News reports a 266% increase in the rate of lethal violence against trans and non-binary people across the country.
Statement of Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst, in response to the legislative override of Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson’s veto of House Bill 1570:
“As advocates for health justice, we are alarmed by the Arkansas Legislature’s decision to override Governor Hutchinson’s veto of this discriminatory bill. Access to gender-affirming care has proven life-saving for trans and non-binary people, and it is unconscionable that the Arkansas Legislature took this action today. We know the fight is not over in Arkansas and we stand ready to join our allies in defending access to basic health care for trans youth – in Arkansas and across the country.”
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About Community Catalyst:
Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice. We partner with local, state, and national advocates to leverage community power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, statehouses, and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @CommCatHealth.
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