Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) rejects $10M in HIV funds, endangering lives.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) has made a controversial decision to reject $10 million in federal funds for HIV testing and treatment. This decision was made as part of an effort to financially choke off Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that abortion is already banned in the state. The decision has been met with criticism from Democratic state Sen. London Lamar of Memphis, who said it “endangers the lives of Tennesseans”, and Diane Duke, president and chief executive officer of Friends for Life, a Memphis group that provides services to people living with HIV. Governor Lee defended the decision, claiming that the state could manage the program more effectively and efficiently with its own funds.
This decision is reminiscent of similar moves by anti-abortion lawmakers in Indiana, which caused several Planned Parenthood clinics to close, including the only HIV testing center in a rural county that later experienced a devastating HIV outbreak. The state health agency in Tennessee also removed Planned Parenthood’s name from a list on its website of community organizations that provide free condoms.
The decision has been met with criticism from advocates, who argue that it is an attempt to target Planned Parenthood and will have a detrimental effect on the health of people in the state. Ashley Coffield, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, said that the decision is “yet another public health crisis manufactured by Gov. Lee”. Governor Lee has appointed a new health commissioner, Ralph Alvarado, who is anti-abortion and may have influenced the decision.
The decision to reject $10 million in federal funds for HIV testing and treatment in Tennessee has been met with criticism from advocates, who argue that it is an attempt to target Planned Parenthood and will have a detrimental effect on the health of people in the state. Governor Lee has defended the decision by claiming that the state can manage the program more effectively and efficiently with its own funds. The decision is reminiscent of similar moves by anti-abortion lawmakers in Indiana, which caused several Planned Parenthood clinics to close, including the only HIV testing center in a rural county that later experienced a devastating HIV outbreak.
The state health agency in Tennessee also removed Planned Parenthood’s name from a list on its website of community organizations that provide free condoms. Ashley Coffield, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, said that the decision is “yet another public health crisis manufactured by Gov. Lee”. Governor Lee has appointed a new health commissioner, Ralph Alvarado, who is anti-abortion and may have influenced the decision.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) has made a controversial decision to reject $10 million in federal funds for HIV testing and treatment. This decision has been met with criticism from advocates, who argue that it is an attempt to target Planned Parenthood and will have a detrimental effect on the health of people in the state. The decision is reminiscent of similar moves by anti-abortion lawmakers in Indiana, which caused several Planned Parenthood clinics to close, including the only HIV testing center in a rural county that later experienced a devastating HIV outbreak.
Democratic state Sen. London Lamar of Memphis and Diane Duke, president and chief executive officer of Friends for Life, a Memphis group that provides services to people living with HIV have both spoken out against the decision. Ashley Coffield, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, argued that the decision is “yet another public health crisis manufactured by Gov. Lee”. Governor Lee has appointed a new health commissioner, Ralph Alvarado, who is anti-abortion and may have influenced the decision.
Governor Lee has defended the decision by claiming that the state can manage the program more effectively and efficiently with its own funds. However, advocates argue that this is simply an attempt to financially choke off Planned Parenthood, leaving those at risk of HIV and those living with the virus as collateral damage. The decision has been met with widespread criticism and it remains to be seen what the consequences of this decision will be.
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