Veterans administration will offer gender affirmation surgery for transgender veterans, Secretary Va Denis McDonough said Saturday during an event of the month of pride in Orlando.
According to Orlando Sentinel, McDonough said politics change is the right thing to do for people who have been pursued by their sexual orientation. VA clinicians reported that many LGBTQ veterans suffer mental health problems because of discrimination, he said.
"For generations, members of the service that are identified as lesbians, gay, bisexuals, transgender or related identities faced brazen or worse discrimination - not only in our armed forces, but in so many aspects of their lives "McDonough said.
"which is the history of the darkness that we must overcome, in VA and America, and echoes until today, in horrible incidents such as the nocturnal pulse shot that has been devastating this community five years ago."
McDonough said it can take several years to expand the ability of VA from performing surgeries.
"This time will allow VA to develop the ability to meet the surgical needs that transgender veterans have requested and deserved for a long time, and I am proud to start the process of delivering it," McDonough said.
Affirmation Weight Loss - VA to Offer Gender Affirmation Surgeries to Transgender Vets
Va Press Secrety Terrence Hayes said that the department expects less than 4,000 veterans would like the surgery, reported to Orlando Sentinel.
a 2016 rand corp study. Estimated that there could be 2,000 to 11,000 active transgender. troops, but that the true number may vary.
The ad is a major change in current VA policy. In 2013, the VA began to provide mental health counseling therapy and prescription hormone therapy for transgender veterans, but denied coverage for sexual reassignment surgery.
The announcement comes after President Joe Biden in January overthrows former President Donald Trump's openly prohibit people who serve in the US military.
