| The Starbucks' insurance coverage story has spread through news sources around the world. In the past 2 weeks, the story (which appeared in our last newsletter) has been featured in major publications from Europe, Asia, and South America, reaching well over 130 million readers. And the policy changes are having a positive effect beyond Starbucks, too. Recent news shared below includes a story about insurance carrier Equitas in Ohio, which has chosen to emulate Starbucks' policy in their benefits offering for their own employees. Although Equitas is a small company, this is significant because the risk that the benefit will be utilized is higher in smaller pools, therefore the costs are greater as a percentage of expenses. Larger pools of covered lives incur less risk. Equitas also declares they want to employ more trans people. Here's hoping Equitas lives up to its name, and that more companies will follow!
Other news comes from Ireland, Portugal, and Canada. WPATH extends congratulations to Greta Bauer and Ayden Scheim on their funding win for "Trans PULSE Canada: A National Study of Transgender Health."
Plus, there's a very interesting piece about transgender reproductive health counseling in Australia from an unusual source: the Middle East North Africa Financial Network.
Back in the U.S.A. again, a judge in Ohio is refusing to grant a name change order for a trans teen; we share an informative interview with "Open Letter" writer Gaines Blasdel; there's good research news out of Georgia and Wisconsin; and there's word from a public "safety net" hospital in Denver that FFS and other GRS procedures soon will be available to trans people there.
We offer an article and a video explaining (from two very different points of view) the basic "science" behind the belief that transgender people don't exist. I like to try to be aware of what the opposition is thinking... perhaps you do, too.
Featured discussions -- more philosophy than news -- focus on recent media about trans children and some additional legislative or regulatory barriers being imposed on trans people and the people around them, too. Opinion forcefully stated in an impressively titled publication (like "The Federalist") can, in today's climate, create ever more dangerous obstacles to transgender health. Food for thought.
Last, but not least, is a tribute to trans surgery pioneer, Dr. Milton Edgerton, who passed away last May.
Thanks for viewing and reading!
Jamison Green, Communications Director. | | WPATH Coverage | | | | Denver Health Will Soon Offer Life-Changing Surgery for Transgender Patients Westword - July 9, 2018 Colorado's Medicaid or even regional Medicare may cover these procedures, otherwise Denver's Starbucks employees should be able to access them through their new insurance coverage; otherwise the implication is that it's still private pay until more insurance companies come on-board. are still extremely expensive. According to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, facial feminization surgery is | | Ohio Judge to Trans Teen: ‘Age. Develop. Mature.’ Church Militant - July 12, 2018 For a less antagonistic story on this judicial gambit, take a look at the coverage in The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/ohio-judge-holds-transgender-teens-identity-hostage. The good thing about this story sourced from "Church Militant," though, is that it includes a short, fairly objective video clip from a local TV news broadcast, which is worth watching. Otherwise, this story is typical of the denial tactics described in the last article included at the bottom of this WPATH news release. protocols the Transgender Clinic reference are from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), that says cross-sex | | | Transgender Health News | | | | Cardiovascular Risks of Hormone Therapy in Transgender Individuals MedicalResearch.com - July 10, 2018 WPATH extends congratulations to our members Michael Goodman, Rebecca Nash, Joshua Safer, Jennifer Slovis, and Vin Tangpricha -- as well as to their co-authors -- on the publication of this important research. research as a result of this work? Response: The body of transgender health research is growing, but high quality data are still lacking | | Portugal parliament approves new gender change law Yahoo! News - July 12, 2018 This story is an update to a previous report about Portugal's proposed "gender change law." The revised proposed law, passed 12 July, now provides that persons between the ages of 16 and 18 must obtain a medical assessment of competency in decision-making. The law now also prohibits surgical procedures to assign a sex to intersex infants. View the letter WPATH submitted to Portugal's President on 3 May 2018 urging him to sign this law here: https://www.wpath.org/newsroom/global-impact/. The revised law still awaits his signature. required transgender citizens to have a medical diagnosis that established gender dysphoria -- when gender does not correspond to biological | | | FEATURED DISCUSSIONS | | | | The Loaded Language Shaping the Trans Conversation The Atlantic - July 10, 2018 Response to the Jesse Singal article in a recent issue of The Atlantic has raised the level of debate over the value of treating trans-identified children and adolescents. This response is particularly worthy of contemplation, in my humble opinion. And the editors are inviting further responses, in the event you may be interested in contributing your ideas.--JG | | Ohio bill would require teachers, health providers to 'out' transgender students NBCNEWS.com - July 3, 2018 Ohio strikes again! Bathroom bills were bad enough, but now this?? WPATH members in Ohio might want to call their legislators to protest this bill. Below this article is a related Letters to the Editor section from the Cincinnati Enquirer. that a child under its care or supervision has exhibited symptoms of gender dysphoria or otherwise demonstrates a desire to be treated in a | | | Dr. Milton Edgerton, 1922-2018 | | | | | | | |
