LGBTQ+ Veteran care

Connect with a care coordinator

Care we provide at VA Gulf Coast

We promote the health, welfare, and dignity of Veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) or a related identity. We focus on ensuring a safe, welcoming, and affirmative environment when providing you with sensitive and high-quality health care services like: 

• Mental health services, including psychosocial assessments for hormone therapy and gender confirming surgeries
• Hormone therapy
• Gender-affirming prosthetics
• Gender affirming voice Therapy
• Testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, counseling, and care, including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for Veterans at risk for HIV
• Other prevention, screening, wellness, and testing services

Policies and practices to know

The care coordinator can help you get started with care or with navigating any of these issues.

Visitation: A same-sex partner, family member, friend, or other individual can be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of the patient's stay.

Definition of family: "Family" may include individual(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, different-sex and same-sex significant others.

Advance directives: Veterans may designate any person as a decision-maker for care if they won't be able to make these decisions themselves. This includes same-sex partners. Advance directive agents are chosen by the Veteran and do not need to be biologically related.

Documentation in medical records: VA Gulf Coast maintains the confidentiality of information about sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and gender identity, just like any other private health information.

Changing name or sex in records: Your name in your medical record will reflect your legal name. The sex in your medical record should reflect your self-identified gender. You have the right to request that your name and sex are updated as appropriate. There are established procedures for changing your name and sex with the VA Privacy Officer.

Fact Sheets

• Getting Started with Services for LGBTQ+ Veterans
• Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Veteran Health Care
• Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Veteran Health Care  
• Nonbinary Veteran Health Care 
• Sexual Orientation and Sexual Health Veteran
• Trans Men and Masculine of Center (MOC) Veteran Health Care
• Trans Women and Transfeminine Veteran Health Care

Discharge Upgrade for LGBTQ+ and/or HIV positive Veterans

If you were other-than-honorably discharged due to your sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV-status under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy, then you may be eligible for VA benefits. How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade

More Resources

• VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program
• Coming Out to Your Health Care Provider  
• Lesbian, Gay Bisexual & Transgender Queer Questioning + (LGBTQ+) Service Members and Veterans 
•  Adding your preferred name and gender identity to your medical records