After two years, still no timeline for transgender surgeries at VA

EVENING FOR THE VETERAN OF THE VETERAN SHARE OF THE DAY

After two years, still no timeline for transgender surgeries at VA
By Leo Shane III
Jun 20, 12:40 PM
Lindsay Church, executive director of Minority Veterans of America (center), speaks at a Capitol Hill rally on LGBTQ veterans rights on March 29. (Leo Shane III/Staff)

Two years after Veterans Affairs leaders announced they would make “life saving” surgery options for transgender veterans available through department medical centers for the first time, no such operations have been performed, and VA officials admit there is no timeline for when they might begin.

The delay comes as a national debate has erupted over both the surgeries and transgender rights. Instead of alleviating some of the stress associated with that, Veterans Affairs officials are adding to the anxiety by failing to follow through with its promise, advocates say.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT Charlie Lee] Sgt (Join to see) PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Patrick Burke PO2 Marco Monsalve Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Kim Patterson SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SFC Ralph E Kelley PV2 Scott M. PO1 Lyndon Thomas CPT Richard Trione