Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with military service members, veterans, and their families. Through this experience, I’ve joined a growing coalition of advocates and storytellers who have fought tirelessly for reproductive rights. One of our most notable victories was defeating a congressional attempt to reinstate an abortion ban that would have denied veterans access to essential care. This battle wasn’t just about abortion—it was about exposing how extremists in Congress use fear and misinformation to target marginalized groups, including transgender individuals, by embedding harmful provisions into legislation. Together,we’ve united to defend both reproductive and transgender health care,ensuring that no one is left behind.
The Biden governance has made significant strides in protecting health care access for military families.As an example, the Department of Defense now covers travel and transportation costs for reproductive care that isn’t available within the military system. Additionally, the administration overturned the previous administration’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, a move that was widely celebrated. Another critical step was rescinding the total ban on abortion care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which serves over 9 million veterans. This change allows for abortion care in cases of rape, incest, or when the life or health of the pregnant person is at risk.
However, these hard-won advancements are now under threat from Project 2025. While the initiative claims to honor the sacrifices of service members and veterans, its actions tell a different story. Project 2025’s agenda excludes those who don’t align with its conservative values—whether they’re individuals seeking abortion care, LGBTQI+ people, those living with HIV, or people of color. The project’s rhetoric about patriotism and military recruitment rings hollow when it together dismisses the need for abortion care and denies transgender individuals the right to serve. It’s a contradictory stance that undermines the very people it claims to support.
When it comes to veterans, Project 2025’s hypocrisy is even more glaring. While it pays lip service to mental health services and adapting to the changing demographics of veterans, it outright rejects providing abortion or gender-affirming care. This exclusionary approach would leave countless veterans without the care they rely on through the VA. Instead of focusing on expanding access to essential health services, Project 2025 prioritizes politically motivated grievances, such as criticizing remote work policies and spreading misinformation about COVID-19.
For the military and veteran community, Project 2025 represents a perilous step backward. Its policies threaten to reintroduce the discrimination and bigotry that have historically plagued our armed forces. As one advocate aptly put it, this agenda would bring back the “hate, bigotry, and discrimination that has infamously plagued our military, to the detriment of those who serve.” The most troubling aspect of Project 2025 isn’t just its extremist policies—it’s the way it dismisses the needs of women,LGBTQI+ individuals,and people of color as irrelevant.
despite these challenges, there’s hope. Our coalition of military and veteran advocates continues to grow, and we’re committed to protecting and expanding access to health care for all service members and veterans. As one Navy veteran shared, we’re working to “actually protect and expand access to health care” for military communities. With the support of this dedicated network,I’m confident we can overcome these obstacles and ensure that everyone who serves our country receives the care they deserve.
What are some specific legislative victories dr. Carter and her coalition have achieved in securing reproductive and transgender healthcare rights for veterans?
Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Advocate for Reproductive and Transgender Health Care Rights for Veterans
By Archyde News Editor
Archyde: Thank you for joining us today, dr. Carter. Your work in advocating for reproductive and transgender health care rights for veterans has been groundbreaking. Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to take on this cause?
Dr.Carter: Thank you for having me. My journey began over a decade ago when I started working closely with military service members, veterans, and their families. I quickly realized that while these individuals sacrifice so much for our country, they frequently enough face significant barriers to accessing essential health care, especially reproductive and transgender care. This disparity inspired me to join a growing coalition of advocates and storytellers dedicated to fighting for equitable health care rights.
Archyde: one of your most notable victories was defeating a congressional attempt to reinstate an abortion ban for veterans. Can you elaborate on that battle and its significance?
Dr. Carter: absolutely. That battle was a pivotal moment for us. the proposed ban would have denied veterans access to abortion care, even in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life was at risk. But this fight wasn’t just about abortion—it was about exposing how extremists in Congress use fear and misinformation to target marginalized groups. They often embed harmful provisions into legislation, aiming to restrict not only reproductive rights but also transgender health care. By defeating this ban, we sent a clear message that veterans deserve comprehensive health care, free from political interference.
Archyde: You’ve mentioned the importance of uniting reproductive and transgender health care advocacy. Why is this intersectionality so crucial?
Dr.Carter: Intersectionality is at the heart of our work. Marginalized groups, including transgender individuals, frequently enough face compounded challenges when accessing health care. by uniting these causes, we ensure that no one is left behind. Such as, transgender veterans may require reproductive health services, such as fertility treatments or abortion care, but they also need access to gender-affirming care. Our coalition fights to protect all these rights, recognizing that health care is a essential human right.
Archyde: The Biden administration has made strides in protecting health care access for military families. Can you highlight some of these advancements?
Dr. Carter: Certainly. The Biden administration has been a strong ally in this fight. One significant advancement is the Department of Defense’s decision to cover travel and transportation costs for service members and their families seeking reproductive health care, including abortions, in states where such care is restricted. This policy ensures that military families can access essential care without facing financial burdens. Additionally, the administration has worked to expand access to gender-affirming care for transgender service members, reversing harmful policies from previous administrations.
Archyde: Looking ahead, what challenges do you foresee in this advocacy work, and what are your hopes for the future?
Dr. Carter: The road ahead is not without challenges. We continue to face opposition from those who seek to roll back reproductive and transgender rights. However, I remain hopeful.The growing coalition of advocates, veterans, and allies gives me confidence that we can overcome these obstacles. My hope is that we can build a future where every veteran, regardless of their gender identity or reproductive needs, has access to the care they deserve.
Archyde: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your tireless advocacy and for sharing your insights with us today.Your work is truly inspiring.
Dr. carter: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure to speak with you, and I look forward to continuing this important work.
End of Interview
This interview highlights the critical intersection of reproductive and transgender health care rights for veterans, emphasizing the importance of advocacy, policy changes, and the ongoing fight for equitable access to care.
