VA Celebrates Pride Month
VA Celebrates Pride Month
Happy Pride month! Here at VA, our doors are always open to all Veterans. VA has specific expertise in caring for LGBTQ+ Veterans and understanding their unique triumphs, challenges, and health concerns.
We want our Veterans to know that we provide comprehensive care for LGBTQ+ Veterans, including routine health services, mental health care, and hormone therapy. Know that your Pride Counts at VA!
VA Celebrates Pride Month by Serving all Who Served!
VA celebrates Pride Month by serving all who served. The “Pride Counts at VA” campaign continues VA’s initiative to inform Veterans that they can disclose their sexual orientation and gender identity within our national health record systems. Veterans can choose from several gender identity options or choose not to reveal them at this time.
Veterans can also choose from several sexual orientation identity options or choose not to disclose. Gender identity and sexual orientation are essential aspects of self that affect exposure to stress and health behavior. VA health records now display gender identity: Recognizing gender identity improves health care experience. Coming soon, you will also be able to modify your sexual orientation identity, too.
You can reach out to your medical facility’s eligibility and enrollment office or LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator to get started and update your record.
Health care for the Veteran you are
If you are among the one million Veterans who identify as LGBTQ+, VA wants you to know that we see you, hear you, respect you and appreciate your service. VA understands that many of you have felt pressure to hide your identities, have faced stigma, or felt unsafe when you came out.
While coming out is a personal choice, being open and honest about your sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual practices with your provider is essential to patient-centered health care. Know that conversations and the information you share with your VA provider are confidential.
Our commitment is to delivering care that fits the individual needs of Veterans enrolled in VA health care, including transgender and gender-diverse Veterans. We are dedicated to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion.
Podcast highlights "LGBTQ Care in the VA"
Dr. Jillian Shipherd, LGBTQ+ Health Program Director at VA Central Office, discusses the ongoing efforts and strategies in VHA to provide inclusive and affirming care for Veterans with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and related identities.
https://www.spreaker.com/user/11014928/womenshealth-lgbtq-shipherd-wmusic-maste
MakeTheConnection.net online resource for Veterans
Sharing LGBTQ+ Identity With Providers- https://www.maketheconnection.net/events/sharing-LGBTQ-identity-with-providers *
Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI)
VA LGBT Departmental Special Emphasis Program (pdf)
LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (VCC) Services
There is an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (LGBTQ+ VCC) at every facility to help you get the care you need. VHA policies require that your health care is delivered in an affirming and inclusive environment and that VHA employees respect your identity.
Reach out to your local facility’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator today: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/LGBT/VAFacilities.asp
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