City Council Unanimously Passes Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits
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0:01 - 0:03There are many people who experience
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0:03 - 0:04discrimination in healthcare here in Oregon,
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0:05 - 0:08but members of our transgender communities face healthcare discrimination
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0:08 - 0:12at a systemic and unparalleled level.
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0:12 - 0:14As the mayor mentioned, the American Medical Association
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0:14 - 0:18has identified transgender health care as being medically necessary.
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0:18 - 0:22Yet many transgender Oregonians are routinely denied the ability
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0:22 - 0:23to even purchase health insurance,
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0:23 - 0:27or are denied the coverage for basic medically necessary care
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0:27 - 0:30solely on the basis of their gender identity.
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0:30 - 0:31And without that health insurance...[cuts off]
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0:32 - 0:34When someone is born with a malformed heart valve
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0:35 - 0:36there's no question we cover the treatment
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0:36 - 0:39necessary to care for that person.
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0:39 - 0:43Similarly, there should be no question that when someone is born transgender
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0:43 - 0:46we provide the care they need.
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0:46 - 0:50There are clear Standards of Care for treatment of a legitimate diagnosis.
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0:50 - 0:55Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria are recognized medical terms & diagnoses.
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0:55 - 1:00I have read one of these exclusionary insurance statements,
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1:00 - 1:03and it is just appalling.
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1:03 - 1:08Uh, the idea that, uh, it would be, and it is, it's the equivalent of saying
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1:08 - 1:12"we will not give insurance to short people."
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1:13 - 1:15You know, it is how you are born.
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1:15 - 1:18This is not about cost and benefit.
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1:20 - 1:23This is about the sanctity of human life,
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1:23 - 1:26and respect for human dignity.
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1:26 - 1:31So we cannot sidestep that as we talk about policy.
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1:31 - 1:37Otherwise, [we entrenching ?] a very fundamental core of our value
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1:37 - 1:42a value of extending liberty and freedom to all of us.
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1:42 - 1:47What we're talking about is a treatment that is medically necessary,
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1:47 - 1:49as determined by the American Medical Association.
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1:49 - 1:53So I'd like to tell you what I believe this issue is really about.
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1:53 - 1:56It's about the American value of equality,
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1:56 - 2:00and so I say let's live the values of our Constitution:
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2:00 - 2:02equal treatment under the law.
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2:02 - 2:05And I thank the mayor and the council for your support of this issue.
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2:05 - 2:07The American Medical Association
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2:08 - 2:09to me, for me, has resolved the question
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2:09 - 2:13by deeming this a medically necessary procedure.
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2:13 - 2:16Uh, based on the briefings I've received,
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2:16 - 2:18I've also concluded that surgery is not optional,
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2:18 - 2:21it is actually an appropriate treatment.
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2:21 - 2:22This is a small price to pay
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2:24 - 2:27for fundamental,uh, helping people to lead happy lives.
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2:27 - 2:31We heard several testimony about suicidal considerations.
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2:31 - 2:33And I think it's time to end that
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2:33 - 2:39and to provide the means necessary for people to become the gender they truly believe they are.
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2:39 - 2:41When people present me with facts and figures
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2:42 - 2:46it doesn't override what my heart tells me is the right thing to do.
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2:46 - 2:47And I could not in good conscience
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2:47 - 2:51allow this city's police officer's to go without health coverage,
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2:51 - 2:53and I don't feel any different about this issue today.
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2:54 - 2:55What was mentioned in testimony
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2:56 - 3:00is that the suicide rate for transgender people is 33%.
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3:00 - 3:05It seems to me that $32,000 is pretty, um, cost efficient in saving a life.
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3:06 - 3:09And more than that, it's the right thing to do.
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3:13 - 3:17Well I want to thank, uh, Clay Neale [sp?], uh, Jennifer Yoakum [sp?], and Warren Jimenez [sp?]
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3:17 - 3:22Amy Ries [sp?] and Karen Burkes [sp?] on my staff who have all worked on uh this issue
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3:22 - 3:24over the past 2 1/2 years.
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3:24 - 3:27Again, to our community partner Basic Rights Oregon,
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3:27 - 3:31to the trans community of Portland
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3:31 - 3:35who uh each and every day make this city a better place,
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3:35 - 3:38and it's really my honour and privilege to serve on a City Council
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3:38 - 3:43where we can bring an ounce of fairness, uh, in return.
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3:43 - 3:49Um, when I put down this gavel, you can clap and cheer.
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3:49 - 3:50[crowd laughing]
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3:50 - 3:51AYE.
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3:51 - 3:52It's approved.
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3:52 - 3:55[crowd cheers and claps]
- Title:
- City Council Unanimously Passes Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits
- Description:
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Portland City Council Unanimously Passes Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits for City of Portland Employees.
Read the ordinance here:
http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?c=50265&a=351336 - Video Language:
- English
Radical Access Mapping Project edited English subtitles for City Council Unanimously Passes Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits |