An LGBTQ group has criticised reports that Donald Trump's administration will ban health agencies from using the word “transgender” in official documents being prepared for next year’s budget.
The president's administration is said to have told agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to avoid using a number of words. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was reportedly given a list which included “transgender” and “diversity”.
Responding to the news, the National LGBTQ Task Force, a social justice organisation, said the President “should be ashamed of himself”.
In a series of tweets, the group’s executive director, Rea Carey, said: “President Trump is clearly hostile to the LGBTQ community, women, and science. Our lives and our needs must not be censored. It is disgraceful to attempt to wipe away transgender people, women, & science.”
Ms Carey went on to say: “President Trump should be ashamed of himself. The CDC knows that the HIV transmission risk for transgender people is high.”
News of the Trump administration’s instruction on prohibited words was revealed by The Washington Post who said policy analysts at the CDC were told of the banned words at a meeting last week.
The list of words also included “fetus” and “evidence-based”.
HSS spokesman, Matt Lloyd, said the assertion that the words had been banned was a "complete mischaracterisation of discussions regarding the budget formulation process."
He added: ”HHS will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. HHS also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions."
