Friday March 3, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 09 |
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Thursday, Nov 20, 2008
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Legislature passes ban on use of public funds for gender reassignment surgery |
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| Legislature passes ban on use of public funds for gender reassignment surgery | ||
| "You shouldn't be allowed to play political games with people's health. That's wrong,"
said Lincoln Rose, a Transgender man.
by Robert Raketty - SGN Staff Writer The Washington State House and Senate both passed amendments to the 2006 supplemental budget (SB 6386) to prohibit the expenditure of state or federal medical assistance funds for gender reassignment surgeries. On Febuary 27, the House voted 64 to 32 in favor of the ban. Two state representatives did not vote. The amendment (H AMD 981) had been offered by Rep. Jim Clements (R-Selah) just three days earlier. State Rep. Joe McDermott (D - Seattle) said he was deeply troubled by the amendments. "I find it disappointing that it is happening in the same year that we passed the antidiscrimination bill," he said. State Rep. Ed Murray (D - Seattle) said a lack of understanding of Transgender issues was at the heart of the vote, but he also pointed a finger at Republicans lawmakers. "It is just political grandstanding on the part of the Republicans. I think it is an issue that people don't have enough information about," he said. "Once we educate members as to whom Transgender people are; the issue will go away. The issue as to people trying to discriminate against them through legislation. State Sen. Adam Kline (D - Seattle) said he was appalled by the Senate version of the amendment, which had passed the Senate 32-12 on Monday, February 20. "There are as many needs - one could say - as there are people. We don't write out prostate surgery for a man. We don't write out uterine or ovarian cancer, for example, for a woman," he said. "For those members of the recipient population who are going through the dysfunctional psychological consequences of being in the wrong body; that is their medical need. I don't see why we wouldn't pay for it; just like we pay for everybody else." Lincoln Rose, a self-described low income Transgender man said it is wrong to deny him necessary medical procedures. "I don't think it is right to restrict people's access to things they need for legitimate health reasons," he said. Rose fears the consequences of the budget amendments could later be interpreted to include counseling, hormones and other treatment options should the ban become law. "This bill could go far beyond gender reassignment surgery," he added. Several local organizations, such as Equal Rights Washington, and members of the state's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community are calling on Governor Christine Gregoire to line-item veto the portion of the budget that carries the prohibition. "I hope our governor will do the right thing," said Rose. "You shouldn't be allowed to play political games with people's health. That's wrong." |
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