The US Health Department will not protect people with gender dysphoria under disability law

The US Health and Human Services Department is clarifying its rules for disability protections. It will now explicitly exclude gender dysphoria from the definition of a disability if it does not result from a physical impairment.

This change means that people with gender dysphoria who receive federal financial assistance from HHS will not be protected under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This could affect access to services, accommodations, and legal recourse for discrimination. It reverses a previous interpretation that offered broader protections.