Author Archives: Dr. Elisabeth "Eli" Sheff, PhD, CASA, CSE

Shifting stigma for kinky fetishists

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/fashion/modern-love-a-spanking-fetish-is-not-revealed-easily.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Jillian Keenan offers an eloquent and heartfelt explanation of the shame and stigma management associated with unconventional sexualities, in this case a spanking fetish. While Keenan’s own story has a happy ending in that her partner accepts her kink and supports her self exploration and disclosure, she highlights the fact that others are not soContinueContinue reading “Shifting stigma for kinky fetishists”

Workplace Summit a Success even with Hurricane Sandy

Workplace Summit a Success even with Hurricane SandyI just returned from the Out and Equal Workplace Summit in Baltimore, a tremendously engaging conference that persisted even in the face of hurricane Sandy. Many inspiring presenters and intrepid attendees braved the rain, wind, and travel back-ups to talk about workplace inclusion of LGBT folks. The conferenceContinueContinue reading “Workplace Summit a Success even with Hurricane Sandy”

Make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children with CASA 5K

I volunteer for the Fulton County CASA program in Atlanta, Georgia, and wanted to inform you about a fundraiser 5K run to benefit the children in the program. The Super Hero 5K Fun Run happens on November 10 at 4pm in Piedmont Park in Atlanta. For more information check out their website at http://www.casarun.org, and www.gacasa.orgContinueContinue reading “Make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children with CASA 5K”

Polyamory and Divorce

My most recent publication, this selection will appear in the forthcoming A Cultural Sociology of Divorce (2013).  **************************************************************************************** POLYAMORY AND DIVORCE According to a study of polyamorous families with children by Elisabeth Sheff, some people seek poly relationships as an alternative to divorce, while others become poly subsequent to divorce from (ostensibly) monogamous marriages. StillContinueContinue reading “Polyamory and Divorce”

BDSM Gone Awry in Missouri: Questions of Evolving Consent

BDSM — or Bondage and Discipline, Domination and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism – more commonly referred to as “kinky,” is a sexual style in which kinksters (people who practice kinky sex) consciously negotiate the exchange of personal power in an erotic or sexual context. Consent is central to kink community practitioners, and forms oneContinueContinue reading “BDSM Gone Awry in Missouri: Questions of Evolving Consent”

Sweden’s Contribution to Gender-Neutral Language

A new article in The Nation highlights the Swedish language contribution to gender-neutral pronouns. In addition to hon (she) and han (he), some Swedes are using hen to indicate a third, neutral gender. While the term has been around since the 1960s, it gained more attention recently when Jesper Lundqvist,  author of the children’s bookContinueContinue reading “Sweden’s Contribution to Gender-Neutral Language”

Evolution of the term Polyamory

The word polyamory has a rich background. People involved in multiple-partner relationships in the 1960s, 70s, and early 80s sought words to express their ideas, found Standard English lacking, and began to create their own words.While the term polyamory was certainly coined by a member of the polyamorous community, exactly which person created the termContinueContinue reading “Evolution of the term Polyamory”

Important Legal Win for Transgendered People

Important Legal Case for Transgendered People

The Transgender Legal Defense and Educational Fund (TLDEF) recently won an important case pertaining to gender reassignment surgery being covered by insurance companies. It is not just the initial reassignment surgery that is at issue, but the fact that when an insurance company defines gender reassignment surgery as outside of the parameters of coverage, then much of that person’s health care can be defined as related to or as a consequence of gender reassignment surgery and thus not eligible for coverage. This means that routine health care — mammograms to menopause, heart disease and cancer care — can be related to hormones and disqualified from coverage eligibility. By covering the transition from the beginning, all subsequent healthcare is covered as well. Yeah TLDEF!

Victory! Transgender Woman Wins Insurance Coverage for Sex Reassignment Surgery

We are thrilled to announce that we have resolved a claim on behalf of a transgender woman who had been denied health insurance coverage for sex reassignment surgery. Ida Hammer, a 34-year-old New York City resident, applied for pre-authorization for male-to-female sex reassignment surgery in July 2011. MVP Health Care denied her claim on the grounds that the surgery was “cosmetic” and therefore was not covered under the policy. MVP refused to alter its position and denied two internal appeals, even after TLDEF submitted extensive evidence in support of Ms. Hammer’s claim.

Only after TLDEF threatened to file a lawsuit did MVP reverse its position and agree to cover the doctor-recommended procedure. MVP stated in its letter authorizing the surgery that “the requested surgery is medically necessary.”

“I have been undergoing treatment for gender dysphoria for the past five years. My doctors determined that surgery is the only adequate treatment for my condition,” said Ms. Hammer. “My insurance company should not be second-guessing my doctors. I’m relieved that it is finally treating me fairly and covering the health care I need.”

“The well-established medical and legal consensus is that transgender-related health care is medically necessary care,” said TLDEF executive director Michael Silverman. “This surgery is not designed to improve one’s appearance, but rather to treat a recognized medical condition. Transgender individuals pay the same premiums and simply want the same benefits as anyone else,” he added.

The medical necessity of sex reassignment surgery has been widely recognized in medicine and law. Organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health recognize surgery as medically necessary and support insurance coverage for it. Since the 1970s, numerous state and federal courts have recognized this surgery as non-cosmetic, medically necessary surgery. Even the Internal Revenue Service recognizes transgender-related surgery as medically necessary and tax deductible.

In addition to TLDEF, the legal team representing Ms. Hammer included Robert Goodman, Brandon Burkart, Katherine Kriegman, Ariel Meyerstein and Susan Reagan of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

New interview with Elisabeth Sheff on The Trashtalk Show

This interview with Barb Tobias on The Trashtalk Show was a refreshing antidote to my last media experience. Barb asked great questions and was really interested in hearing the answers. She liked the interview for the podcast so much we recently did another one that will come out later this month on AM radio. WhenContinueContinue reading “New interview with Elisabeth Sheff on The Trashtalk Show”

Support Research on Transgender Families

Parent Questionnaire

Recently I attended a fascinating session on family dynamics in transgendered families at the recent Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta dedicated to transgender people and their loved ones. Dr. Amanda Veldorale-Griffin with The Family Alliance presented her research on transgendered parents with adult children to a rapt crowd. She is still looking for research participants, so if you or anyone you know are involved in a family with transgendered parents and adult children, please consider participating or passing this information along to those who would be appropriate. All participants who provide an email address will receive a $25 gift certificate as a thank you for their time.
 
For more information you can contact Dr. Veldorale-Griffin at The Family Alliance, 850-273-2540 or thefamilyalliance@gmail.com.