Va puget sound raises the progress flag in celebration of pride month | va puget sound health care | veterans affairs

Embraces this year’s theme: Health Care for the Veteran You Are Last June 2022, the Pride Progress flag was raised at VA Puget Sound Health Care System as well as above many VA facilities as

a symbol of its commitment to inclusion. VA Puget Sound again chooses to raise the Progress Flag in celebration of the diversity of the Veterans we serve during Pride Month in June. “VA is

committed to supporting all Veterans, including those with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other marginalized identities,” said VA Puget Sound Executive Director Dr. Thomas

Bundt. “Our commitment is to delivering care that fits the individual needs of Veterans enrolled in VA health care, including LGBTQ+ Veterans.” VA Puget Sound is dedicated to being a leader

in health care for LGBTQ+ Veterans. Comprehensive care ranges from gender affirming hormone therapy and prosthetics to military sexual trauma screening and treatment, to infertility and

pre-exposure prophylaxis HIV prevention services. VA Puget Sound also has a Gender Diversity Clinic (within the Seattle Campus Endocrinology Clinic) for gender affirming care and LGBTQ+

support groups through its Mental Health Services. Veterans seeking LGBTQ+ care can reach out to VA Puget Sound’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator and Registered Nurse Bridget Reposa

(206-277-3233, extension 63233). LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators help create a safe, welcoming environment and are focused on reducing barriers to LGBTQ+ Veteran care. These coordinators

can also help Veterans add their gender identity, sexual orientation, and chosen name to their VA health record. VA Puget Sound will also be supporting several events during Pride Month to

include Trans Pride Seattle Fair June 23 (6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.), PrideFest Capitol Hill June 24 (noon to 8 p.m.);  Seattle LGBTQ+ Pride Parade June 25 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Tacoma Pride

Festival July 8 (1 to 6 p.m.). Along with the community events, VA Puget Sound is holding an outdoor event at its Seattle Campus June 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Veterans are encouraged to

join VA Puget Sound in the Seattle Pride Parade. Find more information about VHA's LGBTQ+ Program at LGBTQ+ VHA Program. Download fact sheets, posters, policy documents and more. Check

out mental health resources from VA for LGBTQ+ Veterans at Mental Health LGBTQ+. The Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion has a multitude of resources and information.

Validating its commitment inclusion and its policies and practices that make LGBTQ+ residents, visitors and staff feel safe and welcome, VA Puget Sound Health Care System was one of 200

communities across 34 states that actively participated in the Long-Term Care Equality Index. ABOUT VA PUGET SOUND: VA Puget Sound provides comprehensive care to more than 155,000 enrolled

Veterans across Western Washington with a primary care team at one of its care sites: two main campuses (American Lake and Seattle), seven outpatient clinics (Edmonds, Everett, Mount Vernon,

Olympia, Port Angeles, Puyallup and Silverdale) and two Community Resource & Referral Centers (Georgetown in Seattle and Renton). As the VA’s 4th largest research program, VA Puget

Sound has research in virtually every major clinical department, including: TBI and multiple blast exposures; memory improvement and Alzheimer's Disease; PTSD and deployment health;

Parkinson’s Disease; diabetes; cancer; substance abuse; lower limb prosthetics; genomics; and Health Services. Additionally, it has seven nationally recognized Centers of Excellence (in

areas from limb-loss prevention and prosthetic engineering to primary care education and substance abuse treatment). For more information visit www.va.gov/puget-sound-health-care or call

800-329-8387.  For Veterans in Crisis, please use the Veterans Crisis line at 988 (press 1).