Language in Senate version of health care reform bill provides opportunity for Obama administration to redefine "gender" beyond simply male and female, but HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' spokesman dismisses opportunity
We'll see if this sets off another storm front against Obama from the homosexualists . . .
-- From "Sebelius’ Spokesman Says HHS Will Limit ‘Measurements of Gender’ in Federal Health Care Database to ‘Male’ and ‘Female’—LGBT Categories Will Not Be Included" by Penny Starr, CNSNews Senior Staff Writer 8/4/09
A spokesman for Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told CNSNews.com yesterday that a new federal database that will collect information on all beneficiaries of government-run or government-supported health-care programs will only use the categories “male” and “female”—not lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender--when making entries for a person’s gender.
The language in the Senate health care bill that directs the HHS secretary to create this database makes no mention of “male” or “female” but specifically mandates that she “develop standards for the measurement of gender.”
CNSNews.com asked HHS Spokesman Nicholas Papas: “What standards for measuring gender will Sec. Sebelius develop? And will those measurements be limited to male and female or will they include others, such as members of the LGBT community?”
“The purpose of this section is to determine the best way to collect data on health outcomes, broken down amongst women and men, not to define gender,” Pappas responded. “Collecting this type of information helps us to more fully and accurately measure the health status of different populations and identify any disparities.”
CNSNews.com followed up, asking Pappas: “Just to be clear: You are saying that male and female are the only genders that will be distinguished?”
“Yes,” said Pappas.
The press office for the Senate Health committee did not respond to requests for an explanation of the meaning of the phrase “develop standards for the measurement of gender” or whether or not the committee intended to limit gender to male and female.
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