Press Release

"Schools have a responsibility to respond to harmful behavior that targets a student..."

Today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough announced his commitment to removing the categorical exclusion of transition-related surgical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health plan and to providing comprehensive health care for transgender veterans. Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Sasha Buchert issued the following statement:

Today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough announced his commitment to removing the categorical exclusion of transition-related surgical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health plan and to providing comprehensive health care for transgender veterans. Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Sasha Buchert issued the following statement:

Lambda Legal calls ruling “troubling but, importantly, it refused to give a free pass to people or agencies that want to discriminate against LGBTQ people for religious reasons.”

“There is no way to overstate how significant of an impact the ACA has had on the health of marginalized communities… For so many, these reforms were revolutionary.”

“LGBTQ students are protected against discrimination; it is the law, and there should be no confusion or doubt about it.”

Encourages Governor Cuomo to Sign It

“[Marco] was a passionate advocate who spoke truth to power in defense of his community, a vast and diverse group of people connected by struggle.”

“Transgender youth in West Virginia who want to be on a team and challenge themselves should have the opportunity to do so, just like any other student.”

“For many transgender people, having personal identity documents, such as birth certificates, that are aligned with their gender identities is crucial to navigating life safely."