From a American Military Partner Association press release:
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense ( DoD ) has proposed a new rule change that will lift the "regulatory prohibition that categorically excludes all treatment of gender dysphoria," thereby extending crucially needed medical care to transgender service members, veterans, and military family members covered under Tricare. The proposed change would not include surgical care which remains prohibited by statute at 10 U.S.C. 1079( a )( 11 ), but would cover care such as hormone replacement therapy. The American Military Partner Association ( AMPA ) responded to the news with the following statement.
"All service members, veterans, and military dependents, no matter their gender identity, deserve access to the medical care they've earned serving our great nation," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "This proposed rule change from the Department of Defense would be an incredibly important step in the right direction to help ensure our transgender service members, veterans, and family members finally receive the crucial medical care they need. As we await a decision from the Secretary of Defense on whether to lift the ban on transgender troops serving openly and honestly, this news is definitely encouraging."
The news comes as the Secretary of Defense is set to announce his decision by this spring on whether to lift the ban on transgender service members by updating the outdated regulations which prevent them from serving openly and honestly.
In March of last year, AMPA launched an unprecedented joint report with the Transgender American Veterans Association ( TAVA ) highlighting the tremendous harm the outdated regulations inflict on military families. The report notes, "The outdated regulations serve no purpose and only dehumanize and prevent qualified and capable individuals from enlisting and serving. The ban perpetuates trauma to all those involved, both the service member and their family."
In June of 2015, the American Medical Association approved a resolution saying there is "no medically valid reason to exclude transgender individuals from service in the U.S. military."
There are an estimated 15,500 transgender service members currently serving in silence.
For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military families, please visit our home on the web at www.MilitaryPartners.org .
The American Military Partner Association, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, families, and allies of America's LGBT service members and veterans. Based in Washington DC. AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our "modern military families."
From an OutServe-SLDN Press Release:
(Washington, DC) — According to the Military Times report "the Pentagon is poised to make significant changes to its mental health benefits for troops, families and retirees, to include eliminating limits on inpatient services and allowing Tricare to cover hormone therapy for transgender individuals. The Defense Department will propose several changes to mental health services to better align the military health program with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
In a statement, Matt Thorn, Interim Executive Director for OutServe-SLDN stated:
"I applaud the reports from the Pentagon on its proposed changes to medical benefits for our transgender service members, their families and our veterans. All service members, their dependents and veterans deserve quality health care regardless of their gender identity. This is a significant step by the Pentagon to ensure that transgender service members, their families and veterans are being treated equal and have the ability to obtain the necessary care they deserve. As we move closer to ending the ban on transgender service this announcement today is another part of the foundation in that quest. Ensuring that transgender service members and their families are able to seek and acquire adequate health care is fundamental and the Pentagon has recognized that today.
This announcement comes on the heels of great progress for the transgender community in the armed services. Ending the ban on transgender service has been long overdue and this announcement and change is another step in that direction."
OutServe-SLDN (OS-SLDN) is the largest non-profit, legal services, advocacy and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America's military and ending all forms of discrimination and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. With more than fifty chapters and 60,000 subscribers around the world, OS-SLDN supports a professional network of LGBT military personnel and strives to create an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. OS-SLDN provides free and direct legal assistance to service members and veterans affected by the repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and the prior regulatory ban on open service, as well as those currently serving who may experience harassment or discrimination. For more information, visit www.outserve-sldn.org .
