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VA moves to offer gender confirmation surgery to vets

VA Transgender Surgery
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WILMINGTON, Del. — The Department of Veterans Affairs is moving to offer transgender veterans gender confirmation surgery.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough made the announcement Saturday at a Pride Month event in Orlando, Florida.

McDonough said in prepared remarks that the move was “the right thing to do,” and that it was part of an effort to overcome a “dark history” of discrimination against LGBTQ service members.

The move is just the first step in what’s likely to be a years-long federal rulemaking process to expand VA health benefits to cover the surgery.