The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) refused to cover Cody Flack’s top surgery.
Top surgery, a common reference for chest reconstruction surgery for transgender patients, is a widely accepted and effective surgical procedure for treating gender dysphoria. But DHS told Flack, who was born female but identifies as male, last summer that the procedure isn’t covered by Wisconsin’s Medicaid program. The state contends the surgery is “medically unneces...
lgbtq
Pence secretly drafted Trump’s latest transgender military ban
When President Trump announced a new ban on transgender people serving in the military late Friday, it was somewhat of a surprise — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had reportedly recommended in February that Trump allow transgender people to serve. It turns out that Vice President Pence and some of the country’s most prominent anti-LGBTQ activists had a role in reversing the outcome, which explains why the report explaining the decision is rife with anti-trans junk science.
Slate...
Mental health providers are failing bisexual patients
Last fall, I made an appointment with a new psychiatrist, hoping to explore my options for more effective treatment for my lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety. Life under the Trump regime has taken a harsh toll on me as an openly queer/bisexual woman, and like so many of my friends and fellow advocates from various social justice movements and marginalized communities, my regular regimen of antidepressants and self-care simply isn’t cutting it anymore.
Having been to this ...
Trans author Sarah McBride reflects on life lessons and the progress of equality
In her 27 years, activist and author Sarah McBride has already experienced many significant life events. Her new memoir, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality documents the whirlwind that has been her past six years.
In 2012, she came out as transgender as she finished her term as student body president at American University. She went on to become the first openly trans intern at the White House, the face of the fight for transgender equa...
Illinois gubernatorial candidate unleashes hateful ad attacking trans people
Illinois state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R) is challenging incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in the upcoming gubernatorial primary, attacking him from the right. Her campaign’s latest ad, however, does so by taking aim at various groups, including teachers, transgender people, and young feminists.
An actor portraying a mockery of a transgender woman thanks Rauner “for signing legislation that lets me use the girls’ bathroom,” even though the bill referenced on screen ...
Brown, queer, transgender, and not Christian: Meet the new wave of progressive lawmakers
Tuesday night was historic. Amid high turnout across Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, and elsewhere, voters elected a range of progressive candidates, many whose victories signify the first time queer and transgender people, communities of color, and religious minorities will be represented in office.
Here are a few of the next wave of diverse U.S. lawmakers.
Danica Roem, VirginiaManassas Park Democrat Danica Roem triumphed over one of Virginia’s most socially conserv...
Justice Department issues new ‘religious freedom’ memo that invites anti-LGBTQ discrimination
Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued extensive guidance Friday morning regarding “Protections for Religious Liberty” throughout the federal government. The document scrupulously avoids mentioning the LGBTQ community by name but it is undeniably the latest in a string of actions targeting LGBTQ rights.
Among the 20 “key principles” in Sessions’ memo are several assurances that the government will not penalize religious organizations for their religious ...
Experts confirm gender identity is biological and say insurers should cover trans health needs
The Endocrine Society, an international organization of medical experts and biological researchers, has released a new set of guidelines for caring for transgender patients. Along with the guidelines, the organization has issued a position statement calling on federal and private insurers to cover the costs of all medical interventions a physician might prescribe for a transgender patient, including hormone replacement therapies and surgeries.
The updated guidelines and position sta...
McCain joins new legislative effort to overturn Trump’s trans military ban
It became clear Thursday that the Senate would not consider an amendment to the defense budget addressing President Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, but lawmakers have not given up. On Friday, they introduced a separate bill addressing the ban, with new bipartisan support: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
The bill expands upon bipartisan support the amendment already enjoyed from Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Susan Collins (R-ME), but...
The conservative quest to convince the Supreme Court that anti-gay discrimination is okay
Last week, conservatives from across the country chimed in to urge the Supreme Court to side with Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker who refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple. While the top headline was that President Trump’s Department of Justice was siding with Phillips, amicus briefs were also submitted from 19 states, several major religious organizations, dozens of lawmakers, and a slew of conservative think takes, advocacy organizations, and legal groups.
In...