Gus Curran: Benefit will help transgenders

The Dec. 8 news story “Plan to cover sex changes, if medically necessary” on the N.C State Health Plan about the recent change to the state insurance program was informative but a missed opportunity to educate the public about the growing use of the term “Gender Confirmation Surgery” to refer to one of the important benefits being offered to state employees.

Gender Confirmation Surgery is a much more accurate term (over “sex change” or “gender reassignment”) because the person who is having the surgery is not actually changing their sex or gender, but confirming what they have known for some time.

Many people in the transgender community are using it, as well as leading doctors who perform the various surgeries that are covered under this blanket term.

This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 8:11 PM with the headline "Gus Curran: Benefit will help transgenders."