U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough announced that officials, for the first time, will offer surgeries for transgender veterans seeking to transition, Military Times reported.
The move follows repeated promises by VA officials to make the department "more welcoming" 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 "reflect new community standards of inclusiveness and anticipate future changes in terms."
"[This is ] allowing transgender vets to go through the full gender confirmation process with VA by their side," McDonough said prepared remarks for an event at the Orlando VA Healthcare System in Florida. "We're making these changes not only because they are the right thing to do, but because they can save lives."
The National Center for Transgender Equality estimates there are currently more than 134,000 transgender veterans in the United States, with another 15,000 transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.
In a press release Windy City Times received, Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Sasha Buchert said, "We applaud Secretary McDonough's commitment to eliminate the VA's outdated categorical exclusion of transition-related surgical care for transgender veterans. This important update to the VA's health plan will provide continuity of care for transgender service members and will ensure we don't turn our backs on transgender veterans who served our country when they need life-saving medically necessary health care.
"While we recognize the importance of moving forward methodically, we urge the VA to recognize in this process the needs of transgender veterans who have already waited too long for the health care they deserve."