Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) has resolved a complaint filed in 2021 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the Office of Personnel Management on behalf of career federal employee Kelly Shaw. This resulted in the Biden-Harris administration directing all insurance carriers for Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) to remove any discriminatory exclusions for health insurance coverage for transgender people. Kelly Shaw state. “I’m relieved the case is settled. I was on the same plan as other federal workers, but the plan covered medically necessary facial surgery for my colleagues & explicitly excluded this coverage for transgender people. As a transgender woman, being misgendered daily was a kick to my gut that resulted in symptoms of anxiety & depression. It is a huge weight off my shoulders that other transgender federal employees won’t have to go through what I did to have my surgery & they will be allowed to access the same kind of coverage for vital medical care that is offered to my colleagues.” Ezra Cukor, TLDEF Senior Counsel concluded, “We are relieved to resolve this matter for our client & we are pleased with the steps the nation’s largest employer is taking to ensure greater access to transition-related medical care for transgender federal employees. Whether you are a member of Congress or a postal worker or a food service worker, all federal employees, regardless of their gender identity, deserve access to the health care they need.” Founded in 2003 Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to end discrimination & achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities.
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