Free sex changes for San Francisco employees

 

24.04.2001

 

San Francisco is prepared to make history by becoming the only United States city to pay for employees' sex changes - a move some say is long overdue in ending discriminatory practices against transsexuals.

"It really is a civil rights issue," said Marcus Arana, a transgender San Francisco Human Rights Commission discrimination investigator. "We have an insurance issued that will pay for a hysterectomy in Mary but not in Marcus, and will pay for hormone therapy in Mary but not in Marcus."

After a five-year fight, gender-switching benefits earned approval last week from a city committee and will go before the full Board of Supervisors today.