0:00:01.370,0:00:02.577
There are many people who experience

0:00:02.577,0:00:04.205
discrimination in healthcare here in Oregon,

0:00:05.082,0:00:08.197
but members of our transgender communities face healthcare discrimination

0:00:08.197,0:00:11.893
at a systemic and unparalleled level.

0:00:12.262,0:00:13.931
As the mayor mentioned, the American Medical Association

0:00:13.931,0:00:18.060
has identified transgender health care as being medically necessary.

0:00:18.060,0:00:21.757
Yet many transgender Oregonians are routinely denied the ability

0:00:21.757,0:00:23.315
to even purchase health insurance,

0:00:23.315,0:00:26.777
or are denied the coverage for basic medically necessary care

0:00:26.777,0:00:29.863
solely on the basis of their gender identity.

0:00:29.863,0:00:31.488
And without that health insurance...[cuts off]

0:00:31.657,0:00:34.132
When someone is born with a malformed heart valve

0:00:34.978,0:00:36.223
there's no question we cover the treatment

0:00:36.223,0:00:38.754
necessary to care for that person.

0:00:38.754,0:00:43.210
Similarly, there should be no question that when someone is born transgender

0:00:43.210,0:00:45.767
we provide the care they need.

0:00:45.767,0:00:49.633
There are clear Standards of Care for treatment of a legitimate diagnosis.

0:00:49.633,0:00:54.793
Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria are recognized medical terms & diagnoses.

0:00:55.347,0:01:00.435
I have read one of these exclusionary insurance statements,

0:01:00.435,0:01:02.562
and it is just appalling.

0:01:02.562,0:01:08.110
Uh, the idea that, uh, it would be, and it is, it's the equivalent of saying

0:01:08.110,0:01:12.076
"we will not give insurance to short people."

0:01:12.614,0:01:14.980
You know, it is how you are born.

0:01:15.488,0:01:18.236
This is not about cost and benefit.

0:01:19.913,0:01:23.083
This is about the sanctity of human life,

0:01:23.083,0:01:25.586
and respect for human dignity.

0:01:25.586,0:01:30.906
So we cannot sidestep that as we talk about policy.

0:01:30.906,0:01:36.972
Otherwise, [we entrenching ?] a very fundamental core of our value

0:01:36.972,0:01:41.654
a value of extending liberty and freedom to all of us.

0:01:42.177,0:01:46.732
What we're talking about is a treatment that is medically necessary,

0:01:46.732,0:01:49.343
as determined by the American Medical Association.

0:01:49.343,0:01:52.640
So I'd like to tell you what I believe this issue is really about.

0:01:52.640,0:01:55.782
It's about the American value of equality,

0:01:55.782,0:01:59.536
and so I say let's live the values of our Constitution:

0:01:59.536,0:02:01.788
equal treatment under the law.

0:02:01.788,0:02:04.725
And I thank the mayor and the council for your support of this issue.

0:02:05.125,0:02:07.131
The American Medical Association

0:02:08.038,0:02:09.338
to me, for me, has resolved the question

0:02:09.338,0:02:13.091
by deeming this a medically necessary procedure.

0:02:13.091,0:02:15.999
Uh, based on the briefings I've received,

0:02:15.999,0:02:18.275
I've also concluded that surgery is not optional,

0:02:18.275,0:02:20.559
it is actually an appropriate treatment.

0:02:20.682,0:02:22.184
This is a small price to pay

0:02:23.676,0:02:27.006
for fundamental,uh, helping people to lead happy lives.

0:02:27.006,0:02:30.859
We heard several testimony about suicidal considerations.

0:02:30.859,0:02:32.694
And I think it's time to end that

0:02:32.694,0:02:39.143
and to provide the means necessary for people to become the gender they truly believe they are.

0:02:39.405,0:02:41.161
When people present me with facts and figures

0:02:42.330,0:02:45.791
it doesn't override what my heart tells me is the right thing to do.

0:02:45.791,0:02:47.033
And I could not in good conscience

0:02:47.033,0:02:50.629
allow this city's police officer's to go without health coverage,

0:02:50.629,0:02:53.428
and I don't feel any different about this issue today.

0:02:53.674,0:02:55.148
What was mentioned in testimony

0:02:56.240,0:03:00.164
is that the suicide rate for transgender people is 33%.

0:03:00.164,0:03:05.394
It seems to me that $32,000 is pretty, um, cost efficient in saving a life.

0:03:05.702,0:03:09.169
And more than that, it's the right thing to do.

0:03:12.538,0:03:16.776
Well I want to thank, uh, Clay Neale [sp?], uh, Jennifer Yoakum [sp?], and Warren Jimenez [sp?]

0:03:17.161,0:03:22.452
Amy Ries [sp?] and Karen Burkes [sp?] on my staff who have all worked on uh this issue

0:03:22.452,0:03:24.496
over the past 2 1/2 years.

0:03:24.496,0:03:27.165
Again, to our community partner Basic Rights Oregon,

0:03:27.165,0:03:30.877
to the trans community of Portland

0:03:30.877,0:03:35.132
who uh each and every day make this city a better place,

0:03:35.132,0:03:37.676
and it's really my honour and privilege to serve on a City Council

0:03:37.676,0:03:42.888
where we can bring an ounce of fairness, uh, in return.

0:03:42.888,0:03:48.786
Um, when I put down this gavel, you can clap and cheer.

0:03:48.786,0:03:49.730
[crowd laughing]

0:03:49.730,0:03:50.647
AYE.

0:03:50.647,0:03:51.648
It's approved.

0:03:51.648,0:03:54.870
[crowd cheers and claps]