D.C. Announces Equality in Health Care for Transfolk

[rjmacs]

Today, Mayor Vincent Gray announced that in accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act (DCHRA), all insurers in the District of Columbia must provide coverage for all medically necessary procedures for all insured persons, transgender and transsexua l residents included. This includes D.C.'s Medicaid program as well as private plans administered through employers or the D.C. exchange. Prior to now, many plans specifically excluded coverage for medical care sought by transfolk, including hormone treatment, reassignment surgery, etc. For a population that suffers from very high levels of unemployment, homelessness, and suicide, the simple step to offer comprehensive, non-discriminatory health coverage is critically important.

Good job, D.C. You got this one right.

Note: In his announcement, Gray noted that federal health plans, overseen by the Office of Personnel Management, are not covered under the DCHRA and may still legally exclude medical coverage for transpeople employed by the federal government.

[Lemon Drop]

very good


I was just about to post an open question about people who had come into contact with transgender people in their workplaces.

Just did some interviews this week at work - as part of a five person panel. One applicant was a transgender woman. She dresses and lives as a woman but definitely has a male voice and body shape.
I expected this not to be mentioned really but in the after discussion one person said we had to consider that she might make some of our volunteers uncomfortable. I was very surprised to hear this comment because I work in an organization known for open-mindedness and progressive thinking. But it's good that it got said so we could address that - we can't worry about other people's discomfort, they need to get over it. Everyone does.
So I think open discussion and seeing respectful acknowledgment of this in ways such as the new DC laws is a good thing, on many levels.

[$tevie]

I've worked with transgendered people and everyone got over it quickly enough -- but we all had jobs, we weren't volunteers. I don't know if some folks would have left or not if they wouldn't be giving up a paycheck to do so. I think it's legitimate to worry about other people's discomfort in that case, unless you've got volunteers crawling out of the woodwork and don't care if some of them leave due to being uncomfortable.

[Chakravartin]

He's not usually so attentive to civil rights and human decency. He's on his best behavior this week cause he's up for reelection in the middle of a nasty campaign finance scandal.

He's also been tossing public funds around like he's printing money in his basement. Trying to buy votes with grants and running water.

[cbelt3]

I'm curious why TG operations are medically necessary , but basic dental care is not " medical "... When dental problems can endanger lives ..

[rjmacs]

cbelt3 wrote:
I'm curious why TG operations are medically necessary , but basic dental care is not " medical "... When dental problems can endanger lives ..

It's probably the incredibly high rates of suicide.

You can argue that dental should be included in healthcare plans, but please don't start doing worthiness comparisons when you clearly have no idea what you're talking about.

[rjmacs]

Chakravartin wrote:
He's not usually so attentive to civil rights and human decency. He's on his best behavior this week cause he's up for reelection in the middle of a nasty campaign finance scandal.

He's also been tossing public funds around like he's printing money in his basement. Trying to buy votes with grants and running water.

I don't have an opinion on Mayor Gray's campaign, scandals, etc. But, as far as civil rights are concerned, he's been a friend of the LGBT community. He chaired the city council when D.C. passed marriage equality in 2009, he's been supportive of the DCHRA, and his office has been reasonably responsive to LGBT concerns. Far from perfect, mind you, but we've had much much worse.