by I. Edwards
The U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs (VA) has introduced it’ll not present hormone remedy to veterans newly recognized with gender dysphoria.
The choice follows an government order from President Donald Trump that directs federal companies to acknowledge solely two sexes, female and male, which “are not changeable,” The New York Instances reported.
The VA will proceed hormone remedies for vets who had been already receiving them earlier than the coverage change. That is as a result of stopping therapy all of a sudden may hurt an individual’s well being.
“I mean no disrespect to anyone, but V.A. should not be focused on helping veterans attempt to change their sex,” stated Doug Collins, secretary of veterans affairs.
Transgender vets will proceed to be welcome on the VA, Collins added, “but if veterans want to attempt to change their sex, they can do so on their own dime.”
Since 2011, the VA has supplied gender-affirming care, together with psychological well being providers, preoperative evaluations and letters supporting procedures, in addition to postoperative and long-term care, The Instances reported.
Whereas the VA has by no means lined surgical procedures, it has provided help providers like fertility remedies, voice teaching and prosthetic units.
Some VA psychological well being suppliers had been ordered to take away LGBTQ+ help supplies, together with rainbow flags and posters stating “All are welcome here.”
Mary Brinkmeyer, a psychologist who labored with LGBTQ+ vets on the Hampton VA Medical Heart in Virginia, resigned after refusing to take down informational supplies.
“Our code of ethics is, ‘First do no harm,’ and if you’re caught between an institutional demand and your ethical code, you have to resolve it in favor of the ethics code,” Brinkmeyer stated.
“The cessation of hormone treatment, along with the recent designation of V.A. bathrooms and inpatient rooms by biological sex, will have a real chilling effect on veterans’ willingness to seek care for gender dysphoria,” she added.
The Instances famous that research counsel that gender dysphoria—a mismatch between an individual’s organic intercourse and their gender identification—is extra widespread amongst vets than the final inhabitants.
Veterans with gender dysphoria are additionally as much as 20 instances extra prone to expertise suicidal ideas or occasions than different VA sufferers.
Brinkmeyer worries that limiting care may put lives in danger.
“If veterans don’t have other health insurance—and many transgender veterans are homeless or underemployed—will they not seek care if they’re suicidal rather than go to the VA?” Brinkmeyer requested.
Extra info:
Advocates for Trans Equality has extra on transgender navy members and veterans.
Quotation:
VA ends hormone remedy for newly recognized transgender veterans (2025, March 18)
retrieved 18 March 2025
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