University of Arizona prof sues state over denial of health-care coverage to transgender employees
TUCSON – A transgender University of Arizona professor has sued the state over financial access to surgery his doctor said is medically necessary.
Russell Toomey last month filed a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tucson on behalf of state employees and their dependents. The suit, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Arizona, says the state’s exclusion violates transgender employees’ constitutional and civil rights.
Toomey, an associate professor of family studies and human development at UA, said it’s also a matter of finances and fairness.
“Knowing that my state discriminates based on my gender is never a good feeling,” said Toomey, whose doctor told him he needs a hysterectomy to treat his gender dysphoria. “Mentally, it’s just anxiety producing knowing that I have this part of my body that doesn’t feel authentic to me.”
Read more: https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2019/02/18/ua-professor-sues-state-over-denial-of-health-care-coverage-to-transgender-employees/