President Joe Biden's administration announced Monday that it will be “reversing Trump” on transgender health care policies and protections.

The Trump-era policy excluded those who identify as transgender from legal rights involving medical care and had defined “sex” as the gender the patient was assigned at birth -- male or female.

Federal laws have now been officially changed by the Department of Health and Human Services to protect gay and transgender individuals from sex discrimination in health care, the Associated Press reported.

This restores provisions in the Obama-era Affordable Health Care Act, which originally protected transgender people when it comes to medical treatment and care.

“Fear of discrimination can lead individuals to forgo care, which can have serious negative health consequences,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Everyone — including LGBTQ people — should be able to access health care, free from discrimination or interference, period.”

This switch-back has many Americans ecstatic for equal rights and protections, particularly those directly affected by the reversal.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights will also be in charge of investigating sex discrimination complaints again, which means hospitals, clinics and other medical offices/providers can face consequences for breaking this law.

According to a Gallup poll, over 1.5 million Americans identify as transgender and about 5.6% of the entire population identify as LGBTQ+.

Despite significant progress on gay rights around the world, dozens of countries still criminalise consensual same-sex activity
Despite significant progress on gay rights around the world, dozens of countries still criminalise consensual same-sex activity AFP / Sergei SUPINSKY