Michael Hendricks, PhD, of the APA Board of Directors, and APA staff attended the Pride Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)opens in new window on June 3, 2024, which highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s work to improve health equity for the LGBTQI+ community. The summit began with remarks from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra; HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, MD; and Representative Mark Takano (D-California). Levine highlighted the importance of valuing diversity, and Becerra discussed the right of Americans to access healthcare regardless of identity. Takano spoke on his experience as an openly gay elected official and outlined the protections and civil rights expansions included in his Equality Act (H.R. 15)opens in new window. Becerra raised the intersex-inclusive Pride flag outside the HHS headquarters, and participants were then invited to attend three panels discussing sexual and public health in the LGBTQI+ community; Biden-Harris administration actions for change; and bullying, hate crimes and the mental health impact on the LGBTQI+ community.
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