According to this news report, Cuba (well, technically President Raul Castro), has authorized free sex reassignment surgeries (often called "sex change operations") for those citizens who qualify. This is really important news and certainly separates Cuba apart from other countries, such as the United States, in terms of taking a progressive look at providing support for transgender individuals. In the United States, transgender individuals who wish to either use hormones, aesthetic procedures or surgical procedures to change their sex characteristics (e.g. genitals, voice, body hair) often have an extremely high financial burden and little insurance or governmental support. What are your thoughts – should individuals in the US who want to have sex reassignment surgery be able to qualify for government-supported free or reduced rate surgeries?
About Dr. Debby Herbenick
Dr. Debby Herbenick is a sex researcher at Indiana University, sexual health educator at The Kinsey Institute, columnist, and author of five books about sex and love. Learn more about her work at www.sexualhealth.indiana.edu.