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On June 19, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Aaron Thompson, announced a groundbreaking decision to provide coverage for gender confirmation surgery for veterans. This significant policy change was revealed during a Pride celebration in Orlando, where Thompson stated, “We are initiating the crucial steps to broaden the VA’s healthcare services to encompass gender confirmation surgery, enabling transgender veterans to undertake the complete gender confirmation journey with VA support.” He credited President Biden as the key proponent of this decision, emphasizing, “Ultimately, this falls within the president’s jurisdiction… He has made it clear that now is the time, and that’s exactly what we will do.”
This marks a stark contrast to Biden’s previous vice-presidential term, during which the administration explicitly stated that the VA would not cover gender confirmation surgery. Thompson asserted that “at VA, we’re committed to doing everything within our capabilities” to foster a more inclusive healthcare environment for LGBTQIA+ veterans. It’s about time this change has come.
According to The New York Times, gender-confirmation surgeries serve to align an individual’s gender identity, or their “deeply held expression of gender,” with their gender expression, or how they present themselves to the world. These surgeries involve reconstructing genitalia to reflect the gender with which a person identifies. Transgender individuals facing “gender incongruence” are reported to be six times more likely than the general population to seek help for mood or anxiety disorders, three times more likely to be on psychiatric medication, and over six times more likely to have been hospitalized following a suicide attempt. If we want a strong military and healthy veterans, they absolutely deserve access to gender confirmation surgery. This move has been long overdue.
Openly Transgender Veterans Have a History
Transgender service members have a rich history, tracing back to figures like Jonathan Baker, who disguised himself as a man to fight during the American Revolution and was only uncovered when injured. However, the first modern documented transgender veteran, as outlined by Time Magazine, was Taylor Morgan, who transitioned in Denmark after her military discharge in the 1940s. She underwent gender confirmation surgery, which was illegal in the United States at that time, in Denmark during the 1950s. Unfortunately, her surgery was often mischaracterized as a homosexual act, which during that era was unjustly linked with communism.
Another veteran, Skylar Rivers, faced a similar plight, but her story ended tragically. Following Taylor’s journey, she traveled to Denmark, only to find that surgeries for foreigners had become illegal. A botched procedure by an unqualified surgeon nearly cost her life, leading to emergency repairs that were only possible through bending legal standards. Despite eventually marrying a man, she faced societal condemnation, resulting in numerous personal and professional hardships. This is the struggle that transgender veterans have endured.
The Battle for Gender Confirmation Surgery Continues
While it may seem that such injustices belong to the past, the truth is that they persist. The previous administration under Donald Trump implemented a ban on transgender individuals in the military. However, the Department of Defense maintained that if someone already had a “diagnosis of gender dysphoria,” they could continue their hormone treatments and serve in their identified gender, though new diagnoses would not be permitted. Furthermore, those already undergoing hormone therapy or who had received gender confirmation surgery were barred from enlisting. Trump, as reported by NBC News, claimed he was “doing the military a great favor.”
This situation remains baffling, especially since a study commissioned by the Department of Defense revealed that the additional healthcare costs for transgender personnel could range from $2.4 million to $8.4 million, representing merely a 0.13 percent increase. Moreover, only 10 to 130 service members would face “reduced deployability” due to transition-related treatments. Studies of militaries that allow openly transgender individuals found no discernible difference in operational effectiveness or readiness. The ban imposed by Trump was devoid of justification, driven purely by bigotry. Denying soldiers and veterans essential gender confirmation surgery was an act of discrimination.
The Challenge of Overcoming Bigotry Remains
Following the recent announcement, the leading Republican on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee criticized the new plan, labeling it as an attempt to push a radical liberal agenda rather than genuinely serving veterans. This is incredibly frustrating, especially when the goal is to prevent veterans from experiencing suicidal thoughts.
However, the implementation of gender confirmation surgery is not happening swiftly enough. Military.com indicates that this is merely the first step in what will likely be a lengthy process before the VA provides comprehensive gender confirmation services. This delayed response is unacceptable for transgender veterans, who are already grappling with alarming rates of suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression. Even Thompson acknowledges that “the remnants of bigotry persist.” While he may celebrate minor changes, such as adding rainbow magnets to the VA or updating the name of the LGBTQ Health Program, these actions feel superficial when real change is desperately needed.
Our transgender veterans deserve far better than this; they deserve immediate action and support.
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Summary:
The recent announcement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Aaron Thompson, to cover gender confirmation surgery for veterans marks a significant policy change. This decision is rooted in the ongoing battle for transgender rights and healthcare equity, acknowledging the unique challenges faced by transgender veterans. Despite past injustices and ongoing discrimination, the need for timely access to gender confirmation surgery has never been more crucial. The journey towards inclusivity and support for transgender veterans is just beginning, and there is a pressing need for swift action.