Sexuality and Relationship Related Conventions in Atlanta

As home of a thriving film industry, the Black Glitterati, and the largest gay population between Miami and Washington DC, Atlanta is a city of rich cultural diversity. One of the elements of that diversity shows up in the incredible range of relationship and sexuality related cons to which the lovely city of Atlanta playsContinueContinue reading “Sexuality and Relationship Related Conventions in Atlanta”

Dr. Eli Sheff Trains Fulton County CASAs on Sex & Gender Minority Families 9/20/16

Apply and/or Donate to Transgender Studies Scholarships and Fellowships?

Exciting news from The Chair in Transgender Studies! We are establishing a set of brand new scholarships and fellowships to be awarded in 2017. Undergraduate and graduate students, and visiting community- and university-based scholars and professionals, both trans and cis (non-trans) will be able to benefit from these awards. Scholarships & FellowshipsContinueContinue reading “Apply and/or Donate to Transgender Studies Scholarships and Fellowships?”

Participate in Research About Trans/Gender-Nonconforming College Students?

A colleague I know and admire, Abbie Goldberg from the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Massachusetts, is conducting research with trans/gender-nonconforming college students. Check out the details below: Trans/Gender-Nonconforming College Students Project Abbie Goldberg, a Professor of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester MA, is conducting a survey of trans/gender-nonconforming college students (includingContinueContinue reading “Participate in Research About Trans/Gender-Nonconforming College Students?”

Alternative Relationship Education Workshop Event

Alternative Relationship Education Workshop Event Atlanta March 12

Sex Down South Conference Tons of Fun with Sexy Brains

This first year of the Sex Down South conference was FANTASTIC!!!!!! Tons of fun, lots of new ideas, great people to chat with, and so many amazing sessions it was difficult to choose what amazing thing I got to learn next. Lucky for us, the organizers plan to do it again next October so startContinueContinue reading “Sex Down South Conference Tons of Fun with Sexy Brains”

Six Reasons Why the Woodhull Summit Completely Rocks

I just returned from the Woodhull Alliance for Sexual Freedom’s annual Summit and had a fantastic time. This is my second trip to the Woodhull Summit so I knew to expect some great conversation with interesting people, and I was not disappointed. Seven great things keep running around in my head as I reflect onContinueContinue reading “Six Reasons Why the Woodhull Summit Completely Rocks”

Three Policies that could Support Human Rights in Gender and Sexual Minority Families

In the United States some (mostly white and heterosexual) people wax poetic about “the traditional family” of the 1950s, looking back on or imagining relationships of that period as iconic of “real” families with moms who worked at home for free (AKA “didn’t work”), married to dads who worked outside the home for pay, andContinueContinue reading “Three Policies that could Support Human Rights in Gender and Sexual Minority Families”

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”

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.