ABCLocal.Go.com – KGO NEWS
Committee Could Add Surgery To City’s Health Plan
KGO – The Berkeley city council has unanimously approved a study to add transgender surgery to the city health plan.
Forty-nine-year-old Lynn Riordan spearheaded the move to add sex reassignment surgery to the Berkeley health plan. Ten years ago she began taking hormones and paid for surgery with her own money.
Some Berkeley residents don’t believe they should help pay for the surgery, but Riordan says it isn’t just a choice.
Lynn Riordan, Transgender Berkeley Employee: “Some people want to make transexuality a political cause or a life style change but it’s not it’s a medical issue. Do we need to spend $50-$100 thousand dollars to change someone’s cosmetic appearance?”