SB289: A License to Discriminate

Healthcare is a human right. Arkansas politicians disagree.

The recent bill SB289 misleads us to believe that it will create a "Medical Ethics & Diversity Act." What this "Medical Ethics & Diversity Act" actually does is allow all healthcare workers to deny care to any person for any reason they see fit without any repercussions. If you or your loved one are in need of treatment, lifesaving or otherwise, a healthcare provider can deny care based on their "conscience." If SB289 passes, health care workers will deny TLGBQ+ people care—and will be immune to any repercussions in their creation of physical harm or death.

As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing disparities are killing marginalized populations at an alarming rate—specifically black & brown communities. According to a recent study, "Black Arkansans are three times more likely to die of the virus than Whites: For every 100,000 White Arkansans, 2.1 have died a COVID-19 related death; for every 100,000 Black Arkansans, the rate is 7.1." A recent report also found that 40% transgender & gender nonconforming Southerners experienced high levels of violence by health care providers. This devastating research shows that healthcare inequity is at large in our community long before SB289 would go into effect.

With such dramatic health disparities already harming marginalized communities, SB289 seeks to decrease & destroy healthcare access throughout Arkansas. While research shows that our community should focus on bridging the healthcare gap, Arkansas legislators have chosen to actively harm marginalized communities under the guise of "ethics."

SB289 has already passed in the Senate & is currently in committee. We must stop this bill from moving forward today. Medical treatment is a human right that must be accessible to all. The Hippocratic Oath isn't a pinky promise. We cannot afford to have & protect hypocrites in health care. Demand that our representatives protect our ability to access care. If SB289 passes, our blood is on your hands.

Brody Parrish Craig (they/them)

Originally from Louisiana, BPC is a creator & educator based in Arkansas. BPC is the editor of TWANG Anthology, a collection of creative arts from transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming folks throughout the South & Midwest US. Find more of their writing at brodyparrishcraig.com