Congressional Army Vets Vote For Gov't Funded Transgender Sex Change Operation ~ Shark Tank

My struggle? lol The VA is not my area. I work in an MTF with mostly retirees and their family along with some active duty. I can give a speculation based on what my buddies have experienced, but the VA is NOT in my lane as an active duty cardiovascular tech.
I'm not saying they should have a category above combat related injuries. That's preposterous! However look at how we treat mental illness in the military...that's right, we really don't. I've seen soldiers diagnosed with ADHD from combat, which is quite confusing. Or we give people 100% disability for PTSD without actually treating them- then wonder why the suicide rate is so high.

My buddy was medically retired for asthma. My other buddy's ETS was extended to complete physical therapy for a shoulder injury she sustained in a rollover in Afghanistan, the same shoulder took shrapnel from a grenade. So from what I have seen, the VA is quite arbitrary in its treatment and if we can prevent a trans vet from killing themselves because they go through a mental anguish neither you or myself will be able to comprehend, then yes, let them get hormone treatment. The problem we encounter is when we try to trivialize a transgender person's life to a social experiment or movement and fail to see that gender dysphoria is treatable and enables more people eligible to serve.
As for equality, I would prefer equity. Yet that seems unfathonable as it's seen as "special treatment" to the privileged.

SGT Victoria Belbusti - I am not privileged, and I see it as "special treatment."
It is special treatment because it is a 'want' as opposed to a 'need', period; and that is what YOU are advocating when you state that you prefer equity as opposed to equality.
Though I may not be in your situation, I know a lot more about it than what on the surface may appear.
Secondly, you need to take a deep look inside and see how your advocacy lines up with NCO leadership principles as exemplified in the 'SGT Morales' story. Though it is only a story, it is also an allegory that exemplifies what being an NCO is about.
Taking that you are an NCO and you are in a medical field, you should know or be educated about the intermix of the military services medical systems and the VA medical systems. And stating that it is not in your lane is a copout and an excuse.

So shark tank will take this idea but not mine! Must be because my ideas save lives instead of changing Gender!!! Well piss in my canteen!!! LTC Trent Klug

SFC (Join to see) - Two things. Do you kiss your kids with that mouth? And, don't do that, you have to drink from it! LOL

I've heard medical professionals who disagree

SGT Victoria Belbusti As stated in my other comment, it flies in the face of reason when if all other factors are equal that in the VA system that it would fall into and be under the auspices of Priority Category 5. What this legislation does is elevate it above that level and places it on a level by itself. And it does not matter if it is surgery or hormone therapy.
Another reasonable example for the decision making process; You have three individuals with XX chromosomes that want or need a mastectomy. One that has a combat injury to the area in question, one has breast cancer, and one that wants to have them removed. Which one has priority in the VA or the civilian medical establishment, and which one is the lowest on the priority scale?
I will spell it out for you and others -
VA - Combat Injury would or should be P1, with Breast Cancer being P1/P2, and elective being P3.
Civilian - Breast Cancer P1, with Combat Injury (or other injury) being P2, and elective being P3.
Elective/want, whether military or civilian is still at the bottom; though in the civilian world money can and does trump need at times.
It is really that simple.

Yes but you fail to realize is that 1. I agree with you. And 2. It's NOT elective. It's a valid treatment from the APA.
You are choosing to see it as elective.

SGT Victoria Belbusti - How do you agree with me? You have not stated anything that is in agreement with my previous statements. You need to educate yourself about VA Priority Category 5. In that regard your prejudice and or bias is showing by your statements, especially this most recent one.
As to the regards of the surgery being elective or not, your reference does not support the contention that you imply. Yes, surgery is a valid treatment, but not the one and only treatment proscribed, and in some cases is not even recommended. Stop hiding YOUR personal opinion behind the American Psychological Association. I can read and understand the available information as well as you can. (And it is noted that you have a BS in Psychology). I would suggest that you either read or re-read the APA material available, starting with "Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People" under the auspices of the APA and published in the December 2015 edition of the American Psychologist.
So with taking that information that is currently available and generally acceptable, for the most part I would (and many others) contend that it is 'elective.' And that conclusion is supported by the information and empirical evidence as noted in the APA article referenced above.