Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC Co-Chairs House Veterans’ Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) released the following statement praising the VA’s decision to allow veterans access to gender reassignment surgeries at VA health facilities. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, there are more than 134,000 transgender veterans and 15,000 currently serving in the military.
“After bravely serving and defending our nation, America’s veterans have earned the right to unfettered access to all types of medical care,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano and Congressman David Cicilline. “This includes those who are transgender and who will now have access to gender reassignment surgeries at VA facilities. Choosing to undergo gender reassignment surgery is a deeply personal decision that allows individuals to live as their authentic selves. We have a responsibility to provide this option for all Americans, especially for our veterans. We applaud and thank President Biden and Secretary McDonough for taking this extraordinary step to meet the health care needs of our entire veterans community.”
Equality PAC is the political arm of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and is dedicated to the full legal and societal equality for LGBTQ Americans. All funds raised into Equality PAC are spent supporting and electing openly LGBTQ individuals and strong LGBTQ allies to the United States Congress who are committed to passing the Equality Act and to ensuring full civil rights and protections for all LGBTQ Americans.
