Equality California Responds to Supreme Court Ruling in Braidwood v. Kennedy

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoangin response to the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in the case of Braidwood v. Kennedy, which challenged the Affordable Care Act's requirement for insurance companies to cover most preventive healthcare at no out-of-pocket cost:

"Today's ruling allows millions of Americans to breathe easier knowing that this no-cost coverage will remain in place. An adverse ruling would have affected millions of Americans, increased inequitable health disparities, and disproportionately affected Black, Brown, LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities.

This case - brought by an anti-LGBTQ+ employer in Texas who objected to covering PrEP, a revolutionary medication that prevents 99% of people from contracting HIV - was rooted in discriminatory beliefs targeting LGBTQ+ people under the guise of a 'religious objection.' This challenge was never just about one medication. It was an attempt to weaponize religion to justify discrimination and roll back access to lifesaving preventive care, particularly for LGBTQ+ people and including HIV prevention medication, contraception, cancer screenings, and more.

Today's decision is a critical step toward protecting health equity and rejecting bigotry disguised as principle."

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