HEALTH
VA to Provide Gender-Affi rming Surgery for Vets
New policy will take time to implement, but draws praise from advocates
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
The US Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) plans to amend existing
guidelines to cover gender-affi rming
surgery for transgender veterans, VA
Secretary Denis McDonough said on June 19 —
though some trans military leaders are warning
that the policy change could take time.
During a Pride Month event at the Orlando
Vet Center, McDonough said the VA is in the
process of reversing a 2013 ban that prevented
transgender people from receiving gender-confi
rming surgery through the agency’s healthcare
system. The latest directive also builds on
trans health services, such as hormone therapy
and post-operative care, that are already
covered under the Veterans Health Administration.
The announcement comes nearly six
months after the Biden administration lifted a
Trump-era ban prohibiting transgender people
from working in the military.
“This process will require changing VA’s
regulations and establishing a policy that will
ensure the equitable treatment and safety of
transgender veterans,” McDonough said in a
speech at the Orlando Vet Center, according to
the New York Times.
The National Center for Transgender Equality
(NCTE), a nationwide advocacy group that
focuses on LGBTQ policy and organizes one of
the most extensive national surveys about the
experiences of transgender people in the US,
applauded the agency’s direction. The organization
said the move represents a step toward
improving the lives of trans veterans.
“Everyone should have access to the health
care they need to live healthy, happy lives,”
NCTE executive director Mara Keisling said in
➤ LGBTQ CANDIDATES, from p.5
tan’s District 7, where Shaun Abreu is leading
the way with 27 percent, followed by Allen-
Cummings, with nearly 12 percent.
Back in Queens, Amit Bagga — aiming to be
the fi rst out LGBTQ South Asian city lawmaker
— has 17.65 percent, while Julie Won has 18.47
percent in a close race to succeed Van Bramer
in District 26.
Another out LGBTQ candidate running to
succeed a member of the LGBT Caucus is Alfonso
Quiroz, who is seeking to take over for
Daniel Dromm in Queens’ District 25. At the
moment, Quiroz is in fourth place with just over
10 percent. Shekar Krishnan is leading the way
with 30.80 percent, followed by Yi Andy Chen,
who has 17.58 percent, and Carolyn Tran, who
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough.
a written statement. “We know that this is just
the beginning of a long process, but it’s another
step in the Biden administration’s effort to fi ght
discrimination against transgender people, including
our transgender veterans. Every veteran
deserves to have access to the health care that
they need, and the VA is working to make sure
that includes transgender veterans as well.”
The VA’s timeline on the plans are not yet
clear — and that point is being emphasized by
some trans military advocates.
“This is Progress, make no mistake,” Le-
Anne Withrow, the communications director
for SPARTA, a trans military advocacy
group, said in a written statement. “But we
aren’t going to see surgeries being done tomorrow.
The rule-changing process could
has 17.70 percent.
Lynn Schuman, running for City Council for
a third time, is clinging to a 1.7 percent lead
over Aleda F. Gagarin — another LGBTQ candidate
— in Queens’ District 29. Like Cabán,
Schulman and Gagarin would be the fi rst out
LGBTQ woman elected to the City Council from
Queens.
In Brooklyn, out gay District Leader Josue
Pierre is in third place in District 40 with 20
percent. Rita C. Joseph is currently leading that
race with 25 percent. Kenya Handy-Hilliard has
19 percent of the vote in that race.
The race for out gay Councilmember Carlos
Menchaca’s district in Brooklyn includes an
out candidate, Jacqui Painter, though she is far
behind frontrunner Alexa Aviles, who has 43
percent. Painter has just under 11 percent of
REUTERS/TOM BRENNER
take months or perhaps even years. Regardless,
those changes are fi nally being made
and what is important is that this is a massive
step forward...”
In February of 2013, the VA announced gender
confi rming surgery “cannot be performed or
funded by the VA.” Six years later, transgender
veterans were hit with another discriminatory
policy, rejecting trans service members from
the military. This year, the Biden administration
has taken steps to counteract the Trump
era and has called for more widespread support
for LGBTQ healthcare protections.
According to the NCTE, approximately
134,000 veterans identify as transgender, and
more than 15,000 transgender people actively
serve in the military.
the vote.
Out candidate Wilfredo Florentino, a military
veteran running in Brooklyn’s 42nd
District, is behind in a competition featuring
Assemblymember Charles Barron, who previously
spent more than a decade in the City
Council. Barron has nearly 47 percent, while
Nikki Lucas has about 37 percent and Florentino
has 10 percent.
Michael Goldman, a candidate for Civil Court
in Queens, is also in a very competitive race
as he looks to become the fi rst out gay judge
elected in Queens. Goldman is trailing Soma S.
Syed by just two percent.
Non-binary mayoral candidate Paperboy
Love Prince, who was not considered a serious
candidate, has tallied 3,316 fi rst place votes, or
0.43 percent.
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