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June 17, 2008

AMA Supports Transgender Health Care

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders commended the American Medical Association’s support for transgender health care Monday in a press release.

The AMA’s house of delegates in Chicago passed a resolution titled “Removing Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients,” which, according to GLAD, states, “Be it resolved that the AMA supports public and private health insurance coverage for treatment of gender identity disorder.”
Getting appropriate medical care -- whether psychotherapy, hormone therapy, or a variety of surgical procedures -- is a struggle for most transgender people because of prejudice, ignorance, and simple discrimination, according to the release.

“This resolution is hugely important, coming from the country’s most respected medical organization,” commented Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project, in the press release. "Transgender people have to climb over so many barriers in order to get appropriate care, not the least of which is insurance coverage. The AMA resolution should help providers, insurers, courts, and legislatures put gender identity disorder in its proper context -- as a treatable health condition that insurers should cover without discrimination."
The AMA’s resolution can be found on GLAD’s website at www.glad.org. (The Advocate) 

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Sallymaria
    Date posted: 2008-06-16 11:13 PM
    Hometown: New Jersey

    Comment:

    We all know that health is the most important thing in the world. However, "People live in fear of discrimination and, consequently hide their sexual orientation, hide their families, their children and their lifestyle as a result," Johnson said. "I believe it will positively impact the health of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered community". So I think we should give GLBT more support and understanding. Or GLBT may want to try the online service BiLoves to release them,come out here totally and find their right place.


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