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VA to offer gender surgery to transgender vets for the first time
Veterans Affairs officials for the first time will offer surgeries for transgender veterans seeking to alter their physical attributes, Secretary Denis McDonough will announce on Saturday.
The move follows repeated promises by VA officials to make the department “more welcoming” to all veterans and was accompanied by an announcement that the Veterans Health Administration will rename its LGBT health program to the LGBTQ+ program to “reflect new community standards of inclusiveness and anticipate future changes in terms.”
“[This is ] allowing transgender vets to go through the full gender confirmation process with VA by their side,” McDonough said prepared remarks for an event at the Orlando VA Healthcare System in Florida. “We’re making these changes not only because they are the right thing to do, but because they can save lives.”
The National Center for Transgender Equality estimates there are more than 134,000 transgender veterans in America today, and another 15,000 transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.
Reversing Trump, Pentagon releases new transgender policies
The new department regulations allow transgender people who meet military standards to enlist and serve openly in their self-identified gender, and they will be able to get medically necessary transition-related care authorized by law, said the officials..
VA officials estimate that around 4,000 veterans nationwide will be interested in the surgeries. Total cost of the program is not yet known. The department also could not say when surgeries will be available, since officials must first go through a formal rule change process.
McDonough said making the change “will require changing VA’s regulations and establishing policy that will ensure the equitable treatment and safety” of transgender veterans.
“There are several steps to take, which will take time. But we are moving ahead, methodically, because we want this important change in policy to be implemented in a manner that has been thoroughly considered to ensure that the services made available to veterans meet VA’s rigorous standards for quality health care.”
The announcement on gender confirmation surgeries, also known as gender reassignment surgeries, is a dramatic shift from the previous White House and President Donald Trump’s moves to ban transgender individuals from joining the military and limit surgery options for those already in the ranks. Trump cited cost and morale concerns for that opposition.
McDonough, in his remarks, called it a matter of finding the best ways to serve veterans’ needs.
“LGBTQ+ veterans experience mental illness and suicidal thoughts at far higher rates than those outside their community,” he said. “But they are significantly less likely to seek routine care, largely because they fear discrimination.
“At VA, we’re doing everything in our power to show veterans of all sexual orientations and gender identities that they can talk openly, honestly and comfortably with their health care providers about any issues they may be experiencing.”
Retired surgeons general say Trump’s transgender ban damaged military readiness
A palm center study found that the policy negative affected recruiting, retention and morale..
Since 2016, all VA facilities have had a local LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator responsible for helping those veterans connect to available services.
In a statement, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif. and the first openly gay minority individual elected to Congress, hailed the move.
“Veterans in need of gender confirmation surgery should not have to seek healthcare outside of the VA health system or navigate complicated processes to get the care they need,” he said. “VA must be inclusive of all veterans who have served, regardless of their identity.”
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., similarly praised the expansion of health care offerings for transgender veterans.
“Every service member and veteran deserves equal access to quality care from VA, and this includes our LGBTQ+ veterans,” he said in a statement. “We must reaffirm our commitment to making VA a more welcoming place for everyone who fought to protect our freedoms.”
But House Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member Mike Bost, R-Ill., blasted the announcement as the White House trying to win “the culture wars.”
“This announcement clearly has more to do with advancing a radical liberal agenda than serving veterans,” he said. “It is a disgrace. This administration should rethink their priorities immediately.”
In a statement, GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis praised the news as “not only an overdue victory for transgender veterans, but the latest move from Secretary McDonough and the VA in affirming LGBTQ veterans.”
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
In Other News
Officials do not know how long the rule making process will take or when surgeries will begin to be scheduled..
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Veterans Affairs Secretary On Gender Confirmation Surgery For Transgender Veterans
Ari Shapiro
Sarah Handel
Elena Burnett
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough about the VA's recent decision to offer gender confirmation surgery to transgender veterans, lifting a longstanding ban.
Copyright © 2021 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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New VA Gender Affirmation Surgery Policy Sitting on Secretary's Desk
It's been two years since VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced that the VA would cover gender affirmation surgery for transgender veterans, but to date, the VA has yet to publish regulations that would allow it to start providing treatment.
On Tuesday, McDonough said the holdup was with him -- that the policy is on his desk and he is "not yet ready" to roll out the rule under the federal regulatory process that would create the benefit.
McDonough did not say why he has delayed his decision, just that he is studying all aspects of the proposal and "all the issues associated with it."
Read Next : Gender Neutral Standards, Return to Old Fitness Test: Congress' Dueling Ideas for the Army
"When I make the decision, it will be my job to defend it, and so I want to be in the best position to do that," McDonough said during a press conference with reporters in Washington, D.C.
McDonough announced in June 2021 that VA would move to offer surgeries for transgender veterans as part of an effort to provide comprehensive medical care for all veterans and overcome what he described as a "dark history" of discrimination against LGBTQ service members and veterans.
At the time, he cautioned that the federal rulemaking process would take years, adding that VA would use the time to develop the capability and capacity to perform the requested surgeries.
Sentiment against transgender rights has been on the rise in some states, state legislatures and Congress. Two weeks ago, the House Appropriations Committee forwarded a VA funding bill that would prohibit federal funds from being used for gender confirmation care at VA facilities as well as banning Pride flags from VA medical centers.
The proposed legislation, which was adopted 34-27, also barred federal funds from being used to cover the costs of abortions at VA facilities.
In a statement to Military.com earlier this month, VA officials said the delay is not related to the anti-transgender movement, adding that developing the policy will take several steps.
"But we are moving ahead, methodically, because we want this important change in policy to be implemented in a manner that has been thoroughly considered to ensure that the services made available to veterans meet VA's rigorous standards for quality health care," VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said.
To provide new benefits and health care at VA, the department must follow the federal rulemaking process, during which an interim, proposed rule is published in the Federal Register and the public is invited to comment.
The department would then take the comments into consideration before publishing a final rule.
The timeline can span months or years.
The VA covers other gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, mental health care, pre- and post-operative care, voice coaching and medically necessary prosthetics.
Surgery, however, is not covered and is specifically barred under current regulations.
Earlier this year, advocates for transgender veterans pressed for protections of transgender service members and veterans and admonished the Biden administration for the delay.
"We must ensure that trans veterans have full access to the spectrum of care at VA. ... Every day that passes, members of the trans veteran community continue to suffer mental health crises and lose their lives to suicide," Lindsay Church, executive director of Minority Veterans of America, said during a press conference in March.
Hayes said it is the mission of VA to care for all veterans, including those who are transgender, and provide them with the "world-class care and benefits they deserve."
"We thank each and every one of these heroes for their service and sacrifice, and we will continue to work to earn their trust, day by day, through our efforts and our actions," he said.
-- Rebecca Kheel contributed to this report. She can be reached at [email protected].
-- Patricia Kime can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.
Related: The VA Said It Would Cover Gender Affirmation Surgeries. Trans Vets Are Still Waiting.
Patricia Kime
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