DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) | A former Iowa State University employee will get a settlement of more than $27,000 from the state after claiming discrimination in the way the university managed its health insurance for transgender employees.
Elyn Fritz-Waters sued the state in January when her employee health insurance denied care for gender dysphoria, which included her request for hormone therapy and a sex reassignment surgery.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Two Wisconsin residents who want gender reassignment surgeries paid by Medicaid filed a lawsuit Monday against the state, contending their denials of service are discriminatory and violate the federal health care law.
The federal lawsuit from Cody Flack, a 30-year-old transgender man, and Sara Ann Makenzie, a 41-year-old transgender woman, challenges a 1997 state regulation that deems “transsexual surgery” as medically unnecessary and therefore not eligible for Medicaid coverage.
SEATTLE (AP) — A U.S. judge in Seattle has ordered President Donald Trump not to ban transgender troops from serving in the military, saying it’s unclear whether recent changes to his administration’s policy are constitutional.
U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman was one of four judges nationwide who blocked Trump late last year from overturning an Obama-era directive allowing transgender troops to serve openly. The Justice Department asked her to dissolve that ruling, citing changes that would allow transgender troops to serve in limited cases.
ABOVE: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley. Photo public domain.
The top uniformed official in the U.S. Army on Thursday undermined recommendations from Defense Secretary James Mattis against transgender military service — which led to President Trump’s ban on transgender people in the armed forces — by asserting their presence has had no negative impact on unit cohesion
The nation’s association for physicians had stern words Wednesday for Defense Secretary James Mattis over his recommendation to President Trump against transgender military service, saying his findings “mischaracterized and rejected” medical research.
In a letter dated April 3 and made public by Politico, James Madara, executive vice president of the American Medical Association, said Mattis distorted medical research in his determination transgender people are ineligible to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
Consistent with expectations for timing for the new policy, ban on transgender military service issued a memo late Friday on transgender military service that — while moot thanks to court orders against banning transgender troops — nonetheless reaffirms policy against their service.
In the memo dated March 23, Trump defers on the transgender military issue to Defense Secretary James Mattis and based on his recommendation asserts transgender people shouldn’t be allowed to serve “except under certain limited circumstances.”
One Million Moms is outraged that “Roseanne” is including a gender-fluid character.
In the reboot, Darlene (Sarah Gilbert) and David (Johnny Galecki) have a nine-year-old son, Mark (Ames McNamara). The character is described as “gender creative” who “displays qualities of both male and female young child traits.”
LONDON (AP) – The British government plans to make it easier for people to change gender by removing a requirement for a medical diagnosis.
Equalities Minister Justine Greening says people seeking to legally change gender will have to prove they have been in transition for at least two years. But they will not need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a requirement seen as intrusive by many trans people.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) – Gender transition treatments will no longer be covered by University of Arkansas System employee insurance plans.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the school system’s self-funded insurance plans for employees will cover the services until March 6.
LEBANON, Ohio (AP) – A transgender woman appeared before the Warren County Board of Commissioners to challenge the southwest Ohio county’s stance on gender reassignment surgery.
Jaiowyn Robinson attended the board’s Nov. 29 meeting to encourage county commissioners to reconsider its October decision to remove gender dysphoria coverage from the county’s health plan.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – New York officials have proposed authorizing coverage for transgender hormone therapy for patients under 18 in the state’s Medicaid program for low-income New Yorkers.
The proposal issued this week would amend regulations issued almost two years ago.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) – A transgender soldier imprisoned in Kansas for leaking classified information to the WikiLeaks website will end a hunger strike after the Army agreed to allow her to receive medical treatment for her gender dysphoria, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Tuesday.
Chelsea Manning’s medical treatment will begin with surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, the ACLU said. Manning began the hunger strike at Fort Leavenworth military prison on Friday, vowing to continue until she received better treatment.
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