Guest Post: Transgender Veterans and Their Gender Markers
Monday, November 12, 2012 - 10:11am by Daryl Hannah, Director of Media and Community

http://www.glaad.org/blog/guest-post-transgender-veterans-and-their-gender-markers

Editor's Note: This guest post from transgender veteran Autumn Sandeen, is part of a week-long series to celebrate the accomplishments and heroism of transgender Americans as part of Transgender Awareness Week. The final day of Transgender Awareness Week is the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

By Autumn Sandeen

Up until October 16th, I was one of two transgender veterans who weren't able to change my gender marker in the Veterans Administration (VA) databases, to include my VA medical record. There's a story why other trans veterans were able to change their gender markers eight months earlier than I was able to change mine, and it has to do with a cost of community activism -- a cost of serving my trans community peer veterans in a manner similar to how I served my country in the U.S. Navy for 20-years between 1980 and 2000.

The story began with a white paper put forward by the Palm Center and the Transgender American Veterans Association. The paper spelled out the difficulties disabled trans veterans had accessing adequate and appropriate medical care from the veterans administration -- and that's not just transition related care, but even basic medical care. Eligible, disability rated veterans were even being turned away from some VA medical facilities just because they were trans -- it was horrible.

Another good one, thank you, Z. Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on November 12, 2012, 07:27:43 PM
Another good one, thank you, Z. Hugs, Devlyn

The same.

Joelene

USN, 1971-1975

Devlyn, Jolene, and other veterans here at Susan's,

Thanks for your service!

Z

I am taking full advantage of the VA's policy. I get counseling, hrt, and voice therapy from there. I am also working on getting an orchi. Not all the providers are familiar with the policy, but if they are not all you have to do is direct them to it. It is a well written policy and really helps ensure we get addequate care.

Quote from: Brooke777 on November 13, 2012, 09:39:24 AM
I am taking full advantage of the VA's policy. I get counseling, hrt, and voice therapy from there. I am also working on getting an orchi. Not all the providers are familiar with the policy, but if they are not all you have to do is direct them to it. It is a well written policy and really helps ensure we get addequate care.

Hmmmm good luck with that, they wouldn't give me one I had to go outside the system and pay out of pocket.

Quote from: Shantel on November 13, 2012, 11:27:14 AM
Hmmmm good luck with that, they wouldn't give me one I had to go outside the system and pay out of pocket.

My doctors are working on doing some...creative documentation. 

Quote from: Brooke777 on November 13, 2012, 11:29:03 AM
My doctors are working on doing some...creative documentation. 

You are an awesome go-getter lady!  Never say never huh?