DENVER – The member-delegates of the 2.1 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have passed a ground-breaking resolution at their 2012 national conference in Denver last week. The resolution states that SEIU local groups and members will bargain for transgender-inclusive health care coverage as part of their contract negotiations with businesses and employers.
“This is a tremendous step forward in the fight for workplace equality for LGBT people,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Our friends at SEIU recognize that all workers should be treated equitably, and that includes being free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. We are incredibly grateful to SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and the SEIU member-delegates for continuing to be champions of justice and equality.”
With the passage of this resolution, SEIU joins the HRC Foundation, who, for the last decade, has been working to make workplace policies and protections more inclusive for transgender employees and their families through its Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This year the CEI rating criteria was made more stringent, requiring employers to have transgender inclusive health insurance coverage. A remarkable 206 companies met the criteria. Furthermore, HRC’s health care Equality Index recommends that all U.S. health care facilities provide transgender-inclusive health coverage to their employees.
Historically, transgender people have been categorically denied health care coverage for medically necessary treatment, irrespective of whether treatment is related to sex reassignment/affirmation.
HOORAY for SEIU!!!!!!! I am a transgender male and am happy we are getting more allies in the workplace at last. and thank you HRC for your support and help on our behalf.