Speak Up: VA starts process to cover gender-reassignment surgery

Transgender equality within the U.S. military may soon clear another hurdle thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Health Administration currently provides care for transgender veterans and some transition-related medical care, but it is in the process of removing previous exclusions for transition-related surgical care.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said the process is currently in a public-comment period and her organization is gathering input to relay to VA. She said that 10 years ago, transgender veterans were “horribly disrespected” and couldn’t receive any care at all, whether or not it had anything to do with being transgender.

“People shouldn’t think of them as ‘trans’ veterans. They’re just veterans,” Ms. Keisling said. “We’ve made a commitment as a nation that when people have risked their lives and when people have done their service, we take care of their care. And this is care that a lot of people need, their doctors want to give them, and there’s been this unfair and old-fashioned exclusion.”

• Crazy. Free lobotomy for politicians. — Cal William

• I don’t get it. What’s crazy about equality? — Chris Henry

• Let them work it like the GI Bill they had. Every so many years you put in, you get X amount towards your reassignment surgery. The military only pays $4,500 per fiscal year towards college, and that’s if you qualify.— Jeff Grzeszczak

• Why not pay for piercings, tattoos and other cosmetic items then? — Kelly Lord

• Sick. — Mark A. Courtney

• And tired of all the idiots who are against equality. I agree. — John Smith

• Why not stay the gender you were born as? — Jack Jordan

• For the same reason you don’t tell people who have autism they can’t get help or those born with sickle cell anemia too bad or how you don’t tell a soldier who lost a leg from diabetes to suck it up and hobble around on a cane. They all get help. — John Smith