Because many HHS grant programs are authorized by statutes that lack explicit prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of religion or sex—including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics—there are still more protections that HHS could include to protect more people.
We submitted a comment on behalf of a coalition of advocacy groups for children & other marginalized communities making clear that HHS has the authority to implement additional protections in order not to leave these communities behind in their final rule.