Advocacy Memo for Transgender Peoples, Essay Example

According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, transgender peoples, like all other individuals, experience enhanced health if they have access to adequate medical care, thereby utilizing substantially less funds from Medicaid. Currently, there are exclusion placed on care for members of the transgender community. At the state level, such exclusions need to be eliminated in order for the state of California to become one of the leading advocates of increasing access for all individuals regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Doing so would render the Medicaid budget cost effective while also reducing the rates of suicide while also encouraging those who are HIV-positive within the community to pursue medical care so as not to spread the illness (Murad et al., 2010). Moreover, the number of unemployed transgender individuals would be far less if the healthcare system supported the transition process. Overall, while this memo is based on a state-level for the expansion of services within Medicaid programs, acquiescing to the grievances articulated within this memo would set an example for other states to follow. In addition, the antiquated stigma attached to homosexuality and transgender behaviors would progress in a beneficial direction, which is a directive that is necessary if American society is to progress towards a more egalitarian society.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington D.C.: Author.

Murad et al. (2010). Hormonal therapy and sex reassignment: A systematic review and meta-    analysis of quality of life and psychosocial outcomes. Clinical Endocrinology, 72, 214- 231.