{"id":56164,"date":"2021-06-19T15:33:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-19T15:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/06\/19\/va-to-offer-gender-surgery-to-transgender-vets-for-the-first-time\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:44:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:44:50","slug":"va-to-offer-gender-surgery-to-transgender-vets-for-the-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/veterans\/2021\/06\/19\/va-to-offer-gender-surgery-to-transgender-vets-for-the-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"VA to offer gender surgery to transgender vets for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans Affairs officials for the first time will offer surgeries for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2021\/06\/02\/bill-would-protect-medical-care-for-transgender-dependents-of-service-members\/\" target=\"_blank\">transgender veterans<\/a> seeking to alter their physical attributes, Secretary Denis McDonough will announce on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move follows repeated promises by VA officials to make the department <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/02\/23\/va-secretary-promises-diverse-leadership-team-but-cant-say-when-theyll-be-in-place\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cmore welcoming\u201d<\/a> 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 \u201creflect new community standards of inclusiveness and anticipate future changes in terms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c[This is ] allowing transgender vets to go through the full gender confirmation process with VA by their side,\u201d McDonough said prepared remarks for an event at the Orlando VA Healthcare System in Florida. \u201cWe\u2019re making these changes not only because they are the right thing to do, but because they can save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/03\/31\/reversing-trump-pentagon-to-release-new-policy-for-transgender-people-to-serve-in-the-military\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1152686518.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Reversing Trump, Pentagon releases new transgender policies<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">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.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McDonough said making the change \u201cwill require changing VA\u2019s regulations and establishing policy that will ensure the equitable treatment and safety\u201d of transgender veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere 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\u2019s rigorous standards for quality health care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McDonough, in his remarks, called it a matter of finding the best ways to serve veterans\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLGBTQ+ veterans experience mental illness and suicidal thoughts at far higher rates than those outside their community,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they are significantly less likely to seek routine care, largely because they fear discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt VA, we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2020\/12\/07\/retired-surgeons-general-say-trumps-transgender-ban-damaged-military-readiness\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Transgender-testimony.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Retired surgeons general say Trump\u2019s transgender ban damaged military readiness<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A Palm Center study found that the policy negative affected recruiting, retention and morale.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2016, all VA facilities have had a local LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator responsible for helping those veterans connect to available services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif. and the first openly gay minority individual elected to Congress, hailed the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVeterans 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,\u201d he said. \u201cVA must be inclusive of all veterans who have served, regardless of their identity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., similarly praised the expansion of health care offerings for transgender veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvery service member and veteran deserves equal access to quality care from VA, and this includes our LGBTQ+ veterans,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201cWe must reaffirm our commitment to making VA a more welcoming place for everyone who fought to protect our freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee ranking member Mike Bost, R-Ill., blasted the announcement as the White House trying to win \u201cthe culture wars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis announcement clearly has more to do with advancing a radical liberal agenda than serving veterans,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a disgrace. This administration should rethink their priorities immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis praised the news as \u201cnot only an overdue victory for transgender veterans, but the latest move from Secretary McDonough and the VA in affirming LGBTQ veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Officials do not know how long the rule making process will take or when surgeries will begin to be scheduled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":89934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,23,93,12,25,67,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3226],"class_list":["post-56164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"PCPR27OTQBCVPPODI3UCGNQFRE","arc_canonical_url":"\/veterans\/2021\/06\/19\/va-to-offer-gender-surgery-to-transgender-vets-for-the-first-time\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - 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