Florida: Gay rights activist found dead
NBC News reported on January 14 that Jorge Diaz-Johnston, a gay rights advocate with a key role in legalizing same-sex marriage in Florida, has been found dead at age 54. The Tallahassee Police Department says it is investigating Diaz-Johnston's death as a homicide after his body was found in a landfill in Baker, Fla.
Diaz-Johnston entered the public eye in 2014, when he and his husband joined five other same-sex couples in a suit against the Miami-Dade county clerk's office, after they were barred from getting married. In early 2015 a circuit court ruled in their favor, legalizing same-sex marriage in Miami-Dade County. Diaz-Johnston and his husband were married soon after.
In light of the news, his brother, former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz wrote on Twitter: "I am profoundly appreciative of the outpouring of support shown to me, my brother-in-law Don, and my family after the loss of my brother, Jorge Diaz-Johnston. My brother was such a special gift to this world whose heart and legacy will continue to live on for generations to come."
United States: VA adds gender identity to medical records
NBC News reported on January 14 that the Veterans Administration has added an option for veterans to include gender identity in their health records, "to help VA providers better understand and meet the health care needs of veterans," the department said.
The options now include "Transgender male, Transgender female, Non-binary, Other, and Does not wish to disclose."
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough made a statement about the decision: "All veterans, all people, have a basic right to be identified as they define themselves. This is essential for their general well-being and overall health."
Trans veterans like Landon Marchant said they are "blown away" by the development, given how difficult it is to change VA medical records en masse. Others say its benefits include reducing accidental deadnaming and misgendering, which can discourage veterans from getting care. Wisconsin National Guard veteran Sheri Swowoski agrees, but said she worries that some branches of the VA may enact the change later than others.