{"id":2166457,"date":"2024-02-02T17:36:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T22:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-ags-say-lincoln-would-have-wanted-va-to-pay-for-veterans-transgender-surgeries\/"},"modified":"2024-02-02T17:40:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T22:40:22","slug":"democrat-ags-say-lincoln-would-have-wanted-va-to-pay-for-veterans-transgender-surgeries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-ags-say-lincoln-would-have-wanted-va-to-pay-for-veterans-transgender-surgeries\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrat AGs claim Lincoln would support VA funding for transgender surgeries"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrat-ags-say-lincoln-would-have-wanted-va-to-pay-for-veterans-transgender-surgeries%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2166457&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Nineteen\u200c Democratic Attorneys General Advocate for Transgender Veterans&#8217; Surgeries<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In a bold move, nineteen Democratic attorneys general are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to \u200ccover the costs of genital surgeries for transgender-identifying veterans. Their argument? They believe this \u200dis what former Republican President Abraham\u2063 Lincoln would\u200b have wanted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Representing 18 states and\u2063 Washington, D.C., these Democrat officials filed an amicus brief in support of the Transgender American Veterans\u2064 Association, which is \u200dcurrently\u200c suing the VA to cover the expenses of vaginoplasty and phalloplasty surgeries.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Preserving Lincoln&#8217;s Promise<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According\u200c to \u2062the attorneys general, the mission of the \u200dU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is to fulfill President Abraham Lincoln&#8217;s simple promise: &#8216;to care for those who have served in our nation&#8217;s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.&#8217; They argue that by denying \u200ctransgender veterans\u2064 access to medically necessary and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/establishment-media-acknowledge-biden-botched-omicron-testing-kit-supply\/\" title=\"Establishment Media Acknowledge Biden Botched Omicron Testing Kit Supply\">potentially life-saving treatments<\/a>, the VA is failing to uphold this\u2062 promise.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The officials emphasize that these surgeries, despite their \u200cpotential long-term side effects, are both &#8220;life-saving&#8221; and &#8220;medically necessary.&#8221; They\u2064 also highlight that the surgeries in question include breast removal for women who identify as men.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Urgent Healthcare \u200bNeeds<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The attorneys general stress \u200cthat transgender veterans\u200b with gender dysphoria are being \u2062denied life-saving healthcare, leaving them vulnerable to physical suffering, depression, and suicidal ideation. They \u2064argue \u2062that providing comprehensive\u2062 healthcare, including medically necessary \u2063surgeries, has proven to \u200boffer significant\u2062 benefits at negligible costs in the states they represent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1706370777182000&#038;usg=AOvVaw1rZs278QeRErxuxwtCwcq8\">CLICK HERE \u200dTO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Currently, the VA uses taxpayer funds\u2064 to cover cross-sex\u200b hormones, \u200bhair removal, and\u200d &#8220;voice training&#8221; for veterans. However, the\u2063 department has yet to start covering genital and breast surgeries, despite previous statements from Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The attorneys general of Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, \u2063District of\u200b Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois,\u200c Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,\u2063 Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York,\u2063 Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, \u200band Vermont have all signed on to support\u2063 this brief.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Last year, House Republicans attempted\u200d to \u200bpass a measure that would prohibit taxpayer money from funding transgender procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> According to the attorneys general, what evidence supports the medical necessity of gender-confirming surgeries for transgender individuals?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Fulfill that promise. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/attorneys-general-warn-financial-institutions-of-antitrust-violations-over-climate-activism\/\" title=\"AGs warn banks of antitrust breaches due to climate activism.\">attorneys general assert<\/a> that Lincoln would\u2062 have supported \u200cthe rights and well-being of all veterans, regardless of their gender identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The amicus brief\u200b emphasizes that transgender veterans have already demonstrated \u2062their dedication and sacrifice to the \u2062country \u200cby serving in the military. It argues that denying them access to gender-confirming surgeries\u200b not only goes against the VA&#8217;s mission but also violates their constitutional rights to equal protection under the law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The attorneys general point out that the VA already\u200d covers various medical procedures, including reproductive health services for cisgender veterans. They argue that \u200dby excluding transgender veterans from equal coverage, the VA is engaging in discriminatory practices. They believe that all veterans, regardless of their gender identity, should have access to the same level of care and support.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Medical Necessity and Quality of Life<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The amicus brief emphasizes the medical necessity of gender-confirming surgeries for transgender individuals. It highlights that these procedures are not merely cosmetic \u2064but\u2062 can significantly improve\u2063 their mental health and overall well-being. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/25-states-oppose-bidens-proposed-ban-on-traveling-natural-gas-by-train\/\" title=\"25 States Oppose Biden\u2019s Proposed Ban on Traveling Natural Gas by Train\">attorneys general cite<\/a> various medical organizations, including\u200d the American Medical Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which recognize the\u200d efficacy of these surgeries in treating gender dysphoria, a condition often experienced by transgender individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The attorneys general argue that access to gender-confirming surgeries can \u2063have a profound positive impact on transgender veterans&#8217; \u2063lives. They point \u200bto studies that show the reduction of suicide rates and improvement in overall mental health\u200b outcomes\u200b among transgender individuals who undergo \u2064these procedures. By providing coverage for these\u200d surgeries, the VA can contribute \u2064to\u2062 the well-being and success of transgender veterans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additionally, the attorneys general stress that the denial of coverage for gender-confirming\u2063 surgeries perpetuates systemic inequalities and \u2063further stigmatizes transgender individuals. They argue that it is the responsibility of the \u200dVA,\u2064 as an \u2062institution dedicated\u2063 to serving veterans, to address and eliminate these disparities in healthcare\u200d access.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Implications and the Path Forward<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The amicus brief concludes by urging \u200dthe Department of Veterans Affairs to \u2062revise its policies and provide coverage for gender-confirming surgeries for transgender veterans. The attorneys general assert that this change is not only\u2064 necessary to fulfill President \u200cLincoln&#8217;s promise but also to ensure equal rights and access to healthcare for all veterans, regardless of their gender identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The support from nineteen Democratic attorneys \u200dgeneral adds significant weight to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-ducks-emergency-appeal-in-tennessee-abortion-case\/\" title=\"Supreme Court Ducks Emergency Appeal in Tennessee Abortion Case\">ongoing legal battle<\/a> for transgender veterans&#8217; rights. \u2063Their argument based on President Lincoln&#8217;s promise highlights the importance of inclusive\u200b and comprehensive healthcare \u200cfor all individuals who have served our country. As the lawsuit progresses and the conversation surrounding\u200c transgender healthcare evolves, it is crucial\u200b to prioritize \u200cthe well-being and rights of transgender veterans and ensure \u2064that they receive the necessary care they deserve.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nineteen Democratic attorneys general, including Washington, D.C., filed an amicus brief supporting the Transgender American Veterans Association. They argue that the Department of Veterans Affairs should cover expensive genital surgeries for transgender veterans, citing Abraham Lincoln&#8217;s hypothetical support. These Democrat officials represent 18 states and believe it aligns with Lincoln&#8217;s values<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":2166458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-470577888.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2166457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-470577888.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/200"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2166457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166457\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2166458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2166457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2166457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2166457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}