The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus slammed the Trump administration for continuing to censor and erase transgender and allied voices from public discourse at the Department of Health and Human Services, which has reportedly withheld more than 10,000 public comments from a proposal with life and death consequences for the transgender community.

“The Trump administration has all but conceded that they cannot win a public debate on the merits and so has resorted to erasing opposition voices from the public sphere,” said LGBT Equality Caucus Executive Director Roddy Flynn. “This disturbing development comes just days after reporting that agencies within HHS were banning staff from even using the word ‘transgender.’  It seems this administration is not content with just giving a stamp of government approval on discrimination or banning transgender patriots from the military, they are intent on entirely erasing the community from public life.”

In October, the Trump administration sought public comment on a proposal to reduce HHS regulations for religious and faith-based groups, a move that could impact transgender American’s access to health care.  While HHS received 10,729 comments on the proposal, it only published 80 comments.  The comments published largely support the rule on the grounds that it rolls back nondiscrimination healthcare protections for transgender Americans.

Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 11 AM, the National LGBTQ Task Force and the National Partnership for Women & Families are partnering with LGBTQ, reproductive rights, and scientific advocates to demonstrate at the Department of Health and Human Services and to say women, the transgender community, scientific community, and progressive allies will stand united in a visual protest against the Centers for Disease Control’s action. Note that there will not be a speakers program – this demonstration a visual representation and activists will be taking to social media under the hashtags. #CDC7Words, and #ScienceNotSilence.