Military Veterans Who Transition Victimized by Discrimination

More than one third of military veterans who currently identify as transgender have experienced discrimination of some form because of their gender identity, according to a study conducted by the Transgender American Veterans Association. Ten percent of respondents in the survey of 827 veterans and active-duty personnel who are transgender said they had been turned away from Veterans Affairs medical facilities because of their gender expression or identity. Other respondents said they experienced lack of respect from VA doctors (22%), nonmedical staff (21%), and nurses (13%).

Among respondents who served in the military under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, 20% said an officer violated the rules by asking them about their sexual orientation.

According to the report, which was put together by the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and released Thursday, routine medical services such as pap smears, mammograms, prostate exams, psychotherapy, and hormone treatments are regularly denied to transgender patients.

"I find it very disturbing that our proud veterans are being turned away by the VA because of who they are," TAVA president Monica Helms said in a press release. "We served our country honorably and proudly, and the VA medical benefits we earned should not be denied or diminished simply because of the direction our lives took after discharge from active service." (The Advocate)