GLMA President Jesse Joad, MD, MS, and Executive Director Hector Vargas, JD, issued the following statement on the news that President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate US Rep. Tom Price, a physician and Congressman from Georgia, as US Secretary of Health and Human Services:

“GLMA is deeply concerned about the nomination of US Rep. Tom Price to serve as US Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump Administration. Rep. Price’s record on LGBT equality, women’s issues, reproductive choice and other civil rights concerns raises serious questions about his ability to ensure HHS will serve the health needs and concerns of everyone in this country, including LGBT people. He has consistently scored a 0% on the HRC Congressional Scorecard on LGBT equality and his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and promises of repeal threaten healthcare for the 21 million people who have healthcare coverage through the ACA.

“Rep. Price’s record on LGBT health and equality stands in sharp contrast to his two predecessors at HHS who have worked hard over the last 8 years to ensure the department’s policies and programs address the health issues LGBT people experience. GLMA stands prepared to work with our partners to protect this legacy of inclusion and speak out against anyone who opposes and/or seeks to dismantle it.”