Houston Voice Online
Vatican City – The Vatican?s official newspaper criticized the government of Italy?s Tuscany region June 9 for providing free hormone treatments for people transitioning from one gender to another. L?Osservatore Romano called the decision government?s decision ?incredible,? Reuters reported. ?Faced with problems that afflict health care in Tuscany, waiting lists for operations, (insufficient funds for) chemotherapy and inadequate numbers of medical staff, perhaps it would have been better not to give precedence to hormonal treatment for sex changes,? the paper said, Reuters reported. A U.S. transgender advocacy group condemned the newspaper?s comments. ?The Vatican?s criticism is a glaring example of the widespread ignorance surrounding the health care needs of transgender people,? said Simon Aronoff, deputy director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. ?Hormone treatment is a medical necessity and is a key part of maintaining our health and well being.?