Effective January 2017, employees who work for the city of Portland, Maine, can receive coverage for transgender health services under the city's insurance, the Portland Press Herald reported.
Prior to the announcement, health coverage under the city excluded transgender health services like counseling, hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery.
"This has been in the works for many, many months," City Manager Jon Jennings told the Portland Press Herald. "I just believe it was the right thing to do." Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling added that the policy change will support transgender health and will protect all residents.
Portland joins 60 other U.S. cities — including San Diego, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, N.Y., Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Boston — to change their healthcare coverage to include transgender health services.
Groups supporting the transgender community — EqualityMaine, Maine Trans Net, the ACLU of Maine and Consumers for Affordable Health Care — said in a joint statement the decision "represents an important step forward in expanding health coverage to transgender Mainers."
Portland City Council will vote Monday to endorse the change, the Portland Press Herald reported.