The Story of Lori

[Lori Dee]

This is going to be a rant, so bear with me. I will be out of town today and I need to post this for posterity and as a warning to others.

Yesterday, the Veterans Administration announced that it is phasing out treatment for gender dysphoria.
https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-to-phase-out-treatment-for-gender-dysphoria/

All of my medical care, except dentistry, is through the VA. It was a VA psychologist who, per DSM 5, diagnosed me with gender dysphoria in 2019. VA physicians, endocrinologists, and gynecologists have been treating me for this condition. These healthcare professionals are members of nationally recognized professional medical associations, such as the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association, among others. More than 25 professional medical organizations recognize gender dysphoria and its treatment. Hormone therapy was prescribed following the protocols established by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Endocrine Society. This is SCIENCE.

The statement made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the above VA News Release is offensive and discriminatory:

"I mean no disrespect to anyone, but VA should not be focused on helping Veterans attempt to change their sex. The vast majority of Veterans and Americans agree, and that is why this is the right decision," said VA Secretary Doug Collins. "All eligible Veterans – including trans-identified Veterans – will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they've earned under the law. But if Veterans want to attempt to change their sex, they can do so on their own dime."

This is what happens when you have non-medical personnel (a former chaplain) directing a medical healthcare organization. This is what happens when an elected official is allowed to inflict his opinion upon citizens in the form of Executive Orders, and those opinions go unchallenged by non-medical personnel in a form of blind obedience.

I never said I wanted "to attempt to change my sex". I trusted professional medical personnel with their diagnosis and recommended treatment. The results of that treatment have helped me become more healthy, happy, and certain that I was not a victim of malpractice. The decisions made were based on scientific facts, and proven protocols, and administered by licensed medical professionals, not some arbitrary opinion.

I didn't wake up one morning and decide I wanted breasts. I got into therapy to discover why I was having issues. I didn't even want to accept the diagnosis of gender dysphoria at first. But I trusted the VA in its promise to provide the best healthcare.

The news release goes on to state:

VA has not kept consistent and reliable records regarding the total number of Veterans who endured these procedures, the total amount of money spent on them or the total number of employees involved. Veterans Health Administration estimates indicate that less than one tenth of one percent of the 9.1 million Veterans enrolled in VA health care are trans-identified.

This statement is patently false. In 2023, the VA estimated the number of transgender veterans receiving treatment was 134,000 veterans. Treatment is DOCUMENTED in the medical records. Costs have been estimated in the past based on the medications prescribed, which is also DOCUMENTED.

Additionally, VA had been providing letters of support encouraging non-VA providers to perform sex-change surgeries on Veterans. The aforementioned services had been authorized under Veterans Health Administration Directive 1341(4), which has now been rescinded.

Also false. The VA has never "encouraged" any provider "to perform sex-change surgeries on Veterans". VA providers have provided letters of recommendation for gender-affirming surgery when, and only when it was deemed appropriate treatment by these medical professionals.

Any and all savings VA achieves by stopping specific medical treatments for gender dysphoria will be redirected to help severely injured VA beneficiaries — such as paralyzed Veterans and amputees — regain their independence.

This is discrimination by definition. It is taking away a benefit from one class and giving it to another. I fully expect that there will be court challenges filed. I hope there will be a class-action lawsuit that will put these issues to rest. I don't mean an injunction to make it stop. That isn't enough. There needs to be punitive damages so severe that any future attempts like this will be deemed financially untenable.

We will see what happens.

Now, I will be getting away from the computer for the day and taking a mental health vacation.

[ChrissyRyan]

Lori,


Have a nice day out.
Enjoy the day and try to get rid of frustrations.
Maybe a nice hike will help.


Chrissy

[Emma1017]

Lori, I am so sorry for the way all those serving and the vets are being treated, especially the transgender! 

It is disgusting and a disgrace!

I hope you find a way to deal with and get past this insult.

[Northern Star Girl]

@MaryT @Sephirah @Lori Dee @Sarah B

FYI:  State of Alaska population: 739,000
        Alaska has the lowest population density in the United States,
        averaging around 1.3 people per square mile.

That is precisely why I like living here.

HUGS, Danielle

According to aboutaustralia.com,

"The land area of Australia is 2.989 million square miles compared to the land area of the US at 3.797 million square miles"

so your country is bigger than you think.  Last time I checked, the huge state of Wyoming still had less than a million residents. 

Americans seem to be appreciating nature now more than the pioneers did.  To them, I suppose it was understandable to regard wilderness and its denizens as dangers and obstacles.  The British were even more ruthless, wiping out all of the wolves, bears, lynxes, reindeer, beavers and wild boars, although the latter three have been reintroduced to small areas (the boars illegally by animal rights protesters).  Even the British ancient forests are nearly all gone, except, ironically, in the steel producing city of Sheffield.

Many Americans still like to hunt, of course and I approve.  British activists don't understand that in populated areas, wild animals are replaced by domestic stock if they are not exploited.  They produce varied and delicious meat and hides, not just trophies.  Only hunter-killers need really large amounts of wilderness to be conserved.  Camera hunters find all they need in national parks.  A hundred moose hunters need a hundred mooses but a hundred cameramen can all photograph the same moose.

However, I gather that in the USA, wildlife once rare is becaming more common and widespread.  In the 1960s, there was no permanent wolf population in the USA but now they are common in a number of northern states.  In New Jersey, black bears had been extirpated but now the state has the densest population of bears in the USA.  Moose have returned to Massachusetts and Connecticut and beavers are now found in every state except Hawaii.  Even mountain lions are turning up in surprising places.

I do understand Sephirah's envy and surprise but I see your point that to earn money, you need customers and therefore people.

[ChrissyRyan]

Lori,


" Any and all savings VA achieves by stopping specific medical treatments for gender dysphoria will be redirected to help severely injured VA beneficiaries — such as paralyzed Veterans and amputees — regain their independence. "


At least the funds will be used to help veterans, some of whom may be transgender.

True it is a reallocation of funds away from transgender services but it is not going to be used for questionable taxpayer financed programs most anyone would wonder why we were involved with overseas or even domestically, as this will still help US veterans.

I can appreciate this strong disappointment though of many vets losing the transgender services.

Hugs,

Chrissy

[Lilis]

Now, I will be getting away from the computer for the day and taking a mental health vacation.

There's so much going on, and now the VA... I'm sorry for what you're going through. Wishing you a restful and enjoyable day off.

[Lori Dee]

It was good to get away for a day. We had typical weather for this time of year.

According to the calendar, Spring will be here in a few days. It doesn't arrive until a few weeks after Easter in South Dakota.

This was taken at The Lodge in Deadwood. It was pretty, but I am so over it. 



Sadly, escapes from reality are only temporary.
Be safe out there.

[D'Amalie]

I'm so in agreement with you, Lori.  Spring storms and snow are so last year!  <laughter> 

We expect spring storms and we need them for snow in the mountains.  Climate change has us in an extended drought cycle.  If we hope to avoid the calamities of our sister state CA, we need the water.  Back in the day, as recently as the 80's, we would get feet upon feet of snow.  Frequently up to the ground floor windows here in the valley, up over the roof in the Wasatch, Oquirrh, and the Unita mountains.  I just don't care to shovel snow any longer

We usually escape to the Oregon coast a few times a year, but this spring we are headed back east to visit a daughter and new grandbaby.  I'm SO SO SO looking forward to green foliage, blooming Azaleas, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays and Mocking Birds!  Living in the mountain west can have its perks, but the softer climate of the mid Atlantic and New England...sigh.

[Lori Dee]

One of the contributing factors to moving back to Colorado is the weather. There isn't much difference between here and the northern part of the Front Range (plus that is Trtump country). But southern Colorado is more mild. In fact, Canon City has the most mild climate in the state. It is mostly High Desert, but I grew up near Barstow, so I am at home in the desert.

That, plus the state has anti-discrimination laws that will protect me for a while so that I can financially prepare to leave the country if needed.

[D'Amalie]

I do like southern CO!  Didn't know the eastern front and eastward was trumpish.  It figures though, just an extension of Kansas.  UT is not friendly either, although SLC is more tolerant and that's not saying much.  Very Red with the splash of Blue in the city.  From Sandy, southward forget about it.

[Lori Dee]

Most of Colorado is Trumpish. I have family in the north. The Western Slope is also Trumpish. Grand Junction even has an area they call "Trump Valley" because of all the Trump signs.

But from Denver south along the I-25 corridor is strong Democrat. Fortunately, that is also where the highest population areas are, so Colorado has been primarily Democrat-run for decades.

The cost of living also gets lower the farther south you go away from Denver toward New Mexico.

[D'Amalie]

My Wife always says her Mom's family ended up in UT from SOCAL because Grandma wanted 4 seasons.

[MaryT]

I'm sorry that you and other US transgender veterans are suffering both insult and injury in return for your services to your country. 

Ironically, Elon Musk, the brain and money behind the Trump administration, converted to US citizenship in 2002, having previously been a Canadian and before that a South African.  I can only speculate about how much he puts American interests above his own.

Musk left South Africa as a draft dodger.  I'll take his word that it was because he didn't want to defend apartheid, even though not all draft dodgers are conscientious objectors, especially when the ship that they have been ordered to sail in is sinking and the armed force that they are ordered to join is more likely to kill them than the enemy. 

[Lilis]

This was taken at The Lodge in Deadwood. It was pretty, but I am so over it.

Great shot! Did you take it with your phone?

[Lori Dee]

Great shot! Did you take it with your phone?

I did.

We were standing outside the entrance to the restaurant and commenting how pretty it was. Then we looked at each other and both said, "OVER IT!" 

[Lilis]

I did.

We were standing outside the entrance to the restaurant and commenting how pretty it was. Then we looked at each other and both said, "OVER IT!" 

It's funny how something can be so beautiful and so easy to get tired of at the same time.

At least you captured the scene before being over it. 😂

[Moonflower]

Any and all savings VA achieves by stopping specific medical treatments for gender dysphoria will be redirected to help severely injured VA beneficiaries — such as paralyzed Veterans and amputees — regain their independence.

I stopped donating to the United Way when I learned that when I specified where I wanted my money to go, it didn't affect United Way's budget. Sure, they gave my donation to the specified agency, but their budget was much larger so they could compensate with the general funds.

The quote above brings that to mind. Sounds good, but probably just placating.

I hope my optimism is contagious. The pendulum is swinging so far so fast, it must swing back to where

The vast majority of Veterans and Americans agree

it belongs: essential government services.

[Northern Star Girl]

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
I am happy that you arrived home safely from your travels... 

OH YEAH... Snow and Cold not just in your area but also in the rest of
the USA and Canada.
 
Where is the SPRING weather? 
Today is the FIRST DAY of the SPRING season and the temperature outside
at midnight was minus -5 deg(f) {-21 C} and right now it is minus -2 deg (f)

Up here where I live my spring weather really doesn't start until late MAY
or early JUNE but the days are starting to get much longer and the
nights getting shorter day by day.
   Today--->  Sunrise:  8:02am
.                    Sunset:  7:48pm
Stay warm today. 

HUGS, Danielle

According to the calendar, Spring will be here in a few days. It doesn't arrive until a few weeks after Easter in South Dakota.

This was taken at The Lodge in Deadwood. It was pretty, but I am so over it. 



Sadly, escapes from reality are only temporary.
Be safe out there.

[Lori Dee]

Where is the SPRING weather? 
Today is the FIRST DAY of the SPRING season and the temperature outside
at midnight was minus -5 deg(f) {-21 C} and right now it is minus -2 deg (f)

Today we started off sunny and 20F. Now it's clouding up again.

There have been years when I was able to start mining the creek by mid-March, and others when the creek stayed frozen until early June. This year has been mild overall. Not much snow and only the occasional week-long sub-zero temps.

[ChrissyRyan]

It will warm up. 

Chrissy