Transgender health options have finally arrived to Planned Parenthood locations in the Portland area.
In early March 2016, Planned Parenthood expanded its transgender health services to all locations in the “Columbia-Willamette” (Western Oregon and Southwestern Washington area).
These services were first introduced in Southern California October 2015. The main new service that is provided now, is transgender hormone provisions for anyone over 18.
You must be approved by a psychiatrist to have your insurance plan cover the expenses from this new service.
Opponents of Planned Parenthood claim that these new services are not appropriate since it is not a “vital” sexual healthcare service, but I would argue the opposite.
For many, gender dysphoria is a small but important part of the transgender experience. While not all transfolk experience dysphoria, those who do, find it to be an integral part of their lives and many find resistance when seeking treatment at their regular healthcare provider.
I applaud Planned Parenthood for promoting good.
Students at Pacific also have full access to these services. Planned Parenthood prides itself on being a form affordable high quality healthcare available to all people no matter who they are or where they live. Now, they have just expanded this message to fit a portion of the population that is rapidly growing in visibility.
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