VA Restricts LGBTQ+ Expression: Concerns & Policy Changes

VA faces criticism over restricting LGBTQ+ displays & care. Changes impacting transgender veterans' access to gender-affirming care and protections raise concerns about discrimination and health impacts.

Inner VA files reviewed by The Supporter in March revealed that signage for restrooms and property units was transformed to “male,” “female,” or “unisex,” which products using the term “gender” were altered to claim “sex.” The rescission, authorized by acting Undersecretary for Health and wellness Steven Lieberman, removed securities for transgender professionals, eliminating language that had actually protected access to hormonal agent treatment, mental health care, and equitable treatment.

Restrictions on LGBTQ+ Displays at VA Hampton Center

Employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Hampton Medical Center in Virginia state they were alerted during the week of October 13 that they could be discharged or disciplined for putting on or displaying rainbow-themed things, consisting of official VA Pride lanyards, according to messages assessed by The Advocate. The workers are being kept confidential out of concern of retaliation.

They added that rainbow flags and any kind of rectangular things regarded as one have been banned from facilities.

Other communications assessed by The Advocate show managers relaying the cautioning to team and stating the advice originated from “central office.” One team member composed, “They mentioned, per executive order, you can not have lanyards, rainbow magnets, [or] shirts … and Headquarters is coming down on our management, which is spilling down to us.” An additional staff member, declining to comply, created, “I’m mosting likely to wear my official VA-issued rainbow lanyard tomorrow as usual. I’m mosting likely to require a main plan or declaration prior to I eliminate it, and y’ all are gon na require to offer me with a replacement.”

An additional message defined comments made by Michael W. Harper, the medical facility’s acting exec director. “Mr. Harper stated as much in the early morning report the other day,” one staff member composed. “Today, he backtracked all of it and said leaflets, lanyards, shirts, [and] banners associated with medical care of LGBTQ veterinarians are accepted by headquarters.”

As The Advocate has reported, the division has actually halted new gender-affirming care for transgender professionals who were not already obtaining it, and companies have been advised not to write letters supporting gender-affirming surgeries at outside centers. Christopher Wiggins is The Supporter’s elderly nationwide reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the crossway of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White Residence, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal companies. He has actually written multiple cover tale profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Early morning America Weekend break support Gio Benitez. Christopher Wiggins is The Supporter’s elderly nationwide reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public plan and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, consisting of The White Home, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal firms. He has actually composed several cover tale accounts for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, long time LGBTQ+ ally Vice Head of state Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Early morning America Weekend support Gio Benitez.

Concerns Over Policy Changes and Their Impact

Christopher Wiggins is The Supporter’s senior national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the crossway of public law and national politics with LGBTQ+ lives, consisting of The White Home, United State Congress, High Court, and government firms. He has written multiple cover story accounts for The Supporter’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice Head of state Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend support Gio Benitez. Wiggins is committed to magnifying unknown tales, particularly as the second Trump administration’s policies impact LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) civil liberties, and can be gotten to at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can firmly contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.

LGBTQ+ campaigning for groups condemned the modification, warning it would certainly have tragic psychological and physical health and wellness effects. One Hampton psychologist who surrendered shortly after the begin of the second Trump administration, Dr. Mary Brinkmeyer, informed The Supporter this year that the rollback “confirmed concerns” that local administrators would certainly really feel emboldened to enforce brand-new limitations on visible LGBTQ+ expression.

In one message, an employee wrote that a doctor at the Hampton center informed a coworker, “Anything rainbow like lanyards can obtain us terminated on the place.” The worker included, “There’s absolutely nothing in writing that states this, and she can not offer anything in writing either.”

Underground Resistance and Lack of Clarity

That order appears connected to the Trump management’s rollback of defenses for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex experts. As The Advocate formerly reported, the VA in March retracted Regulation 1341, a long-lasting policy that ensured those veterans obtained considerate, scientifically appropriate health care and were protected from discrimination. The division warranted the action by mentioning President Donald Trump’s “Defending Women” exec order, which redefined gender as strictly binary and based upon sex assigned at birth.

The reported scenario comes in the middle of growing issue inside the VA over LGBTQ+ exposure and care under Veterans Matters Secretary Doug Collins. As The Advocate has actually reported, the division has stopped brand-new gender-affirming look after transgender professionals who were not currently obtaining it, and providers have actually been instructed not to write letters supporting gender-affirming surgical procedures at outside facilities. Clinicians have actually explained an “below ground resistance” to plans they state conflict with medical values and individual well-being.

The very same message said healthcare facility leadership told team to comply “to stop us from obtaining any kind of disciplinary activity” and that “Harper is threatening disciplinary action.”

Christopher Wiggins is The Advocate’s senior nationwide reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public law and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White Home, United State Congress, Supreme Court, and federal companies. He has composed several cover story profiles for The Advocate’s print publication, profiling numbers like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice Head of state Kamala Harris, and ABC Greetings America Weekend break support Gio Benitez. Wiggins is devoted to amplifying unimaginable stories, specifically as the 2nd Trump administration’s plans influence LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) rights, and can be reached at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can safely contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.

The VA has not cleared up whether the Hampton directive was accepted by headquarters or issued individually. The Advocate reached out to Harper on Monday to request comment, but he did not respond. VA Press Assistant Pete Kasperowicz acknowledged a different inquiry by The Supporter recently. He asked for details and added time yet did not follow up or respond to subsequent e-mails.