New Tucson VA clinic will treat transgender veterans

Tucson, Ariz. (AP) — The Veterans' Administration hospital in Tucson will soon become the fourth in the country to hold special clinic hours for transgender patients.

The new clinics are the latest in a series of changes that began in 2011, when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ordered its facilities to take better care of transgender veterans. Tucson's clinic starts Wednesday and will let patients see several specialists in a single visit.

Local VA officials say the population of transgender vets in Tucson has grown from 50 to 130 in the last five years.

Dr. Sonia Perez-Padilla is the head of the Tucson VA's transgender treatment team. She says the hospital is recognized by the VA as a national center of excellence for transgender care.

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The Gayly – December 14, 2015 @ 1:15 p.m.