In 2013, Leslie’s wife Katie had pivoted to a solo attorney practice – and that same year, Leslie came out as transgender and was consequently fired from her six-figure salary position. The abrupt loss forced her and Katie to seek new insurance. Application after application was denied, and it became clear that they are denied because Leslie is transgender.

What then followed was the realization for Leslie and Katie that basic health care for transgender people is a maze of painful difficulties. Leslie and Katie were often forced to navigate urgent care as a substitute for primary care physicians.

Both Leslie and Katie know that transgender people need explicit nondiscrimination protections – and that without them, transgender people remain vulnerable to healthcare discrimination. Thankfully, Leslie was able to regain coverage via a new employer – the Resource Center in Dallas, TX – and Katie through the Affordable Care Act,  but unfortunately, others are not as lucky due to the rollback of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which extended clear nondiscrimination protections for transgender Americans. The rollback strips communities in need of protection, including members of the LGBTQ community. No one should be denied care because of who they are or who they love.