Published on February 3, 2024, 12:48 am

Nineteen Democratic attorneys general recently advocated that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should advance coverage for expensive genital surgeries specifically for veterans identifying as transgender. They reasoned this advocacy harkens the ethos of former Republican President Abraham Lincoln.

These Democratic officials hail from 18 states as well as Washington, D.C., and collectively voiced their support via an amicus brief submitted on behalf of the Transgender American Veterans Association. The association is currently pressing a lawsuit against the VA demanding the coverage of both vaginoplasty and phalloplasty surgeries.

The attorneys general adhered to President Lincoln’s notion in their amicus brief saying: “The mission of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is to fulfill President Abraham Lincoln’s simple promise: ‘to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.’ However, they suggest that given certain regulations, many transgender veterans see this commitment by President Lincoln not fully realized, arguing that despite recognizing transgender veterans’ existence, curtailing access to these described critical surgical procedures is failing on part of serving all veterans.

They insisted these surgeries are both “life-saving” and “medically necessary,” disregarding often serious long-term side effects. Additionally, they urged procedures to be covered that would also include removal of breasts in women identifying as men.

Making a case for their proposition they wrote: “Transgender veterans with gender dysphoria are denied life-sustaining healthcare and fall victim to physical suffering, depression, and suicidal thoughts.” Furthering their argument by indicating that comprehensive healthcare access including medically necessary surgery has significant benefits at negligible costs when provided to transgender individuals based on experience of corresponding states.

Presently, VA utilizes taxpayer money to cater medical interventions like cross-sex hormones treatment, hair removal processes or so-called “voice training” for veterans exploring cross-sex changes. That being said uncertainty surrounds when exactly will VA initiate coverage for genital and breast surgeries despite Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough hinting it’s on cards.

Democratic Attorneys general from states like Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New York Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island and Vermont collectively approved this brief.

This development takes place amidst failed attempts last year by House Republicans to pass a directive which would prohibit the utilization of taxpayer money for procedures involving gender transition. These trusted news relay real news as it happens with a Christian worldview perspective. They ensure access to breaking news benefiting all readers trying to stay informed about developments shaping our world.