Transgender Equality
Veterans Administration Makes Important Clarification on Records Policy
March 2, 2012
http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/veterans-administration-makes-important-clarification-on-records-policy/ (http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/veterans-administration-makes-important-clarification-on-records-policy/)
Building on the June 2011 Directive on the treatment of transgender veterans, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has announced a clarification to its records policy that will make significant difference in the lives of trans veterans. Since the Directive has gone into effect, we have received positive reports from trans veterans about receiving more respectful health care. However, one area that the Directive left somewhat unclear was the documentation that was required for veterans to change the gender marker on their health records.
Interesting, thanks for the head's up! Several years ago I was visiting the urology department at the local VA facility in male mode. The male nurse was asking me about what kinds of meds I was on and became agitated and acted incredulous and really put out when he learned that I was using Estrace and Spironolactone. Not being the shrinking violet that some of my sisters are I told him that I had noticed the sign above the door as I had come in the department that talked about respect for diversity, etc. I told him that if he expected me to respect him as a black man he'd need to reciprocate. End of story! Generally 90% of the folks at VA get it, but there's always a few that need their mindset tweeked, there's an art in learning to deflect another person's negativity against them so that they change their attitude.
Well played, Shantel! I think you're right, that at times we need to remind people (at the VA and everywhere else) what it means to be a decent human being who treats others with dignity and respect, whether there are laws, policies and regulations to that effect or not.