Trans person's 'facial feminization' surgery will not be covered by Ontario health plan

Ontario taxpayers will not be forced to pay for a biological male to have his features appear more feminine. Facial feminization surgery is used by transgendered women to look more feminine in a way that hormones alone can't provide.

But should taxpayers be obliged to pick up the cost?

"Why should this quickly growing identity group be entitled to services that others are not," said Pamela Buffone, founder of the Canadian Gender Report, according to the National Post.

The individual who was denied the funding is identified as M.F. and is said to suffer "severe gender dysphoria." M.F., who cannot be identified due to a publication ban, is seeking surgical redress for "a pronounced Adam's apple and prominent forehead," according to the Post.

The Ontario government informed M.F. last September that a request to fund a a tracheal shave and brow reduction at a Montreal or Ontario clinic was denied.

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) decided that the operations are not covered under the Schedule of Benefits. Although M.F. appealed that ruling, the Ontario's Health Services Appeal and Review Board, upheld OHIP's decision.

M.F. argued in the submission that age has exacerbated the gender dysphoria because M.F.'s facial features "are causing her severe daily distress" whiling hating "being visibly transgender."

Despite being on hormones for over a year, the review board noted that the individual insists that facial feminization surgery is essential to overcome M.F.'s gender dysphoria. The hormones have led to "certain facial characteristics that are associated with males" because the individual experienced male puberty.