In 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs declared that it does not provide gender-reassignment surgery to veterans. VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced that the agency is moving to reverse that policy.
Veterans Affairs officials for the first time will offer surgeries for transgender veterans seeking to alter their physical attributes. The move follows repeated promises by VA officials to make the department “more welcoming” to all veterans and was accompanied by an announcement that the Veterans Health Administration will rename its LGBT health program to the LGBTQ+ program to “reflect new community standards of inclusiveness and anticipate future changes in terms.”
“[This is ] allowing transgender vets to go through the full gender confirmation process with VA by their side,” McDonough said prepared remarks for an event at the Orlando VA Healthcare System in Florida. “We’re making these changes not only because they are the right thing to do, but because they can save lives.”
Asta Kill is on the Board of Directors for Persad Center, the leading LGBTQ+ mental health services agency in Western Pennsylvania.
An attorney who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany, Asta is a transgender woman who began transitioning later in life. Her journey includes many of the typical struggles of a person finding their gender identity and the resulting consequences from transitioning.
Ms. Kill applauds VA's plan to offer gender confirmation surgery. She tells KDKA Radio's Lynne Hayes-Freeland "it is fantastic that it is a change of mind and energy that all of our veterans who have served our country and are transgender will get the care that they need."
"There are still questions that need answered regarding what it actually covers," she said.
Asta lives in Mt. Lebanon with her son.