What Does “Conscience Protection” Mean — and How Could It Impact LGBTQ+ Healthcare?

Conscience protection laws let doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and even hospitals refuse to provide certain medical services based on their personal religious or moral beliefs.
That means they can legally say "no" to care they don’t "agree with" — and in many cases, they don’t even have to tell you where else to go. BARF.

How It Hurts LGBTQ+ Patients

• Gender-affirming care could be denied.
  A trans or nonbinary patient might be refused hormone therapy, emergency care after surgery, or even basic procedures like Pap smears or STI testing.

• Fertility services could be blocked.
  Same-sex couples trying to access IVF, sperm donation, or surrogacy support could be turned away.

• Emergency contraception could be refused.
  Pharmacies can claim “conscience objections” to deny morning-after pills, especially targeting LGBTQ+ people and survivors of assault.

• Mental health care could be limited.
  Therapists or counselors could refuse care to queer and trans clients — or push harmful "conversion therapy"-style approaches under the guise of "moral objections."

Why It Matters Now

Proposals like Project 2025 and other conservative policy efforts are trying to expand conscience protections even further — making it easier for healthcare providers and institutions to deny care, especially in areas already hostile to LGBTQ+ rights.

It’s not just about isolated cases anymore — it’s about systematically making healthcare access conditional on whether a provider "agrees" with who you are.

What Should You Do If This Happens

If you are denied healthcare based on a provider’s personal beliefs, you have options. Here’s what to do:

1. Document Everything

   • Write down the date, time, name of the provider or institution, and exactly what happened.

   • Save any written communication (emails, forms, discharge paperwork).

2. Ask for a Supervisor or Patient Advocate

   • Calmly request to speak with a supervisor or patient advocate on site.

   • You can ask, "What is your formal process for addressing patient discrimination?"

3. Request Your Medical Records

   • Ask for a full copy of your medical records immediately.

   • This protects your access to information if you seek care elsewhere or file a complaint.

4. File a Complaint

   • You can report the incident to:

     • The Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

     • Your state’s health department

     • Legal advocacy groups like Lambda Legal, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), or the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR).

5. Seek Affirming Care Elsewhere

   • Reach out to LGBTQ+ affirming providers through directories like GLMA or OutCare Health.

   • If you need help finding care urgently, some LGBTQ+ centers and legal groups maintain emergency provider lists.

6. Prioritize Your Mental Health

   • Being denied care can be traumatic. It’s important to seek emotional support — whether that’s through therapy, support groups, or trusted community networks.

Bottom Line

"Conscience protections" are being used to justify discrimination — not just protect personal beliefs.
At Take Back Trust, we believe that healthcare is a human right. Your gender identity, sexuality, and humanity should never be grounds for denial of care.

You deserve full, respectful, affirming healthcare. No exceptions. No apologies.