Sex-change Benefits approved in San Francisco 04/30/01 16:57 PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 Monday to make San Francisco the only city in the nation to pay for employees' sex changes. The measure, which awaits the signature of Mayor Willie Brown, will extend up to $50,000 in benefits to city workers who want to switch their gender. San Francisco apparently would be the only governmental body in the nation to make such benefits available. The state of Minnesota offered such benefits, but the program was phased out in 1998. The issue was discussed in Oregon, but a commission decided against it in 1999. The benefits would be available starting July 1. The benefit would cover male-to-female surgery, which costs about $37,000, as well as female-to-male surgery, which runs about $77,000. It also would cover hormones and other procedures. Employees would have to work for the city at least one year before they would be eligible. People wanting sex-change surgery would have to pay 15 percent out of pocket if they use a doctor in the city's health network. If an out-of-network doctor is used, that goes up to 50 percent. ©2001 Associated Press GAIN Newsletter [Editor's addendum: I was delighted to have attended the SupervisorsÇ meeting, along with more than 100 other TG folks and our supporters. (The day was not spoiled even though the S.F. Chronicle's web site idiotically captioned the above article "Get Ready for Millie Brown." The joke is that S.F. Mayor Willie Brown will now rush out for reassignment surgery. Yuk, yuk. It's doubtful the SFgate wit knew the real Millie Brown is one of the Bay Area's best-known gender therapists.)-- Kim.]

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