Public Policy Priorities | Equitas Health

Achieving our mission of care for all through public policy

Our mission is to be a gateway to good health for all—but we cannot do that without the essential government programs, services, and policies that enable us to provide accessible and affordable care to our patients and clients. In addition to directly providing affirming care, Equitas Health advocates on the local, state, and federal level for public policies that support the LGBTQ+ community, BIPOC individuals, and people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS. Equitas Health is committed to fighting for policies at the intersection of health equity and racial justice, and we endeavor to eliminate disparities facing our patients and clients.

We remain committed to advocating for equitable and just public policies. In 2024, we will pursue public policy solutions focused on:

  • Expanding access to high quality and affordable health care and advocating for increased funding for community health centers (CHCs) and health care programs including Medicaid and Ryan White.
  • Dismantling white supremacy in our institutions and fighting for equity for BIPOC employees, patients, clients, and community members.
  • Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic through comprehensive treatment, testing, and prevention and the modernization of HIV criminalization laws in Ohio and across the country.
  • Eliminating violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Legal equality for the LGBTQ+ community through the passage of state and federal nondiscrimination protections.
  • Maintaining and expanding funding for affordable housing and assistance programs including HOPWA while working to protect tenants from source of income discrimination.
  • Protecting and expanding voting rights and encouraging civic participation.
  • Increasing access to comprehensive harm reduction programs and services across the state.
  • Addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) in clinical spaces and in our policy and advocacy work.

We will support legislation to advance access to quality health care, education, community development, social connectivity, and economic stability.

Equitas Health External Affairs

External Affairs advocates for legal and societal change to improve health outcomes for marginalized communities.

Where We Stand

To be silent in the presence of injustice is to collude with it. Read our public statements and policy briefs.

Equitas Health Votes

In order to make good policy, we have to elect good policymakers. Together, our voices make a difference!

Equitas Health External Affairs

Access to Health Care and Health Care Programs

Equitas Health External Affairs

Advancing Racial Justice

Equitas Health External Affairs

LGBTQ+ Protections and Rights

Part of our mission at Equitas Health is to serve as a voice for the LGBTQ+ community, and we actively work to advocate for equality and dignity for all at the local, state, and federal levels.

Equitas Health External Affairs

Housing

Equitas Health understands that housing is healthcare. Our team is committed to promoting and advancing policies that address the severity of the housing crisis in our service areas and across the country. We will advocate for policies that end discriminatory rental and eviction practices, expand funding for the HOPWA program, and expand appropriate, affirming, and affordable shelter or housing options.

Equitas Health External Affairs

Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic through Prevention and Care

Fighting HIV/AIDS has been at the center of Equitas Health’s mission since our organization’s inception, and we are committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the US.

To achieve this goal, we must prevent transmission of HIV, provide treatment and care for those affected by HIV/AIDS, and ensure that PLWH/A have access to the necessary support services to maintain their treatment and to guarantee a stable and healthy life.

Equitas Health External Affairs

Harm Reduction

Equitas Health External Affairs

Minimizing Negative Interactions with the Criminal Justice System

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system because of discriminatory laws and policies that lead to criminalization, over-policing, and targeting by law enforcement. In an effort to address this overrepresentation, Equitas Health is committed to decreasing initial entrance and recurring reentrance into the criminal justice system for members of the LGBTQ+ community and to specifically addressing issues that LGBTQ+ youth face within the criminal justice system.

Equitas Health External Affairs

Voting Rights and Civic Participation

Donate

Your Gift Makes a Difference

When you give to Equitas Health, you help more people get quality, lower cost, affirming healthcare and social services in your community and throughout the region. Thank you for your commitment to community health!

Make a Donation
Action Alert

Make Your Voice Heard!

Our action alerts let you know when local, state, and federal elected leaders are making policy that impacts access to healthcare, LGBTQ+ equity, and racial justice. It takes less than a minute to tell your legislators that you care.

Sign Up & Speak Out!