Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) Forming State and Local Chapters
 

For Immediate Release: March 10, 2006
From:  The Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)

Tennessee Chapter Contact: BEAR and Andrew Rodgers
Contact Email:  tennessee_chapter_tava@yahoo.com
Chapters Director Contact: Ann Knittel, Chapters@tavausa.org        

Media Contact:  Beth Maples-Bays
Media contact email: media@tavausa.org
Contact Phone:  1-865-689-4260
Website:  http://www.tavausa.org

TAVA, a tax exempt, not-for-profit organization that supports equitable healthcare treatment of transgender veterans, is ready to expand its outreach by forming TAVA chapters in states or localities with affected veterans, friends, family, and other allies.

Chapters will be formed under the auspices and tax exemption of TAVA National www.tavausa.org, according to Ann Marie Knittel, TAVA National Chapters Director. Ann Knittel also stated, "Anyone interested in being a part of a Chapter in Tennessee, is welcome. They don't have to be transgender, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. All one needs is a heart to want to help assist veterans and individuals in obtaining their benefits."

Having a chapter that focuses specifically on veterans’ issues is important not only for those in Tennessee, but also for every state. We will not only be dealing with medical benefit problems for transgendered veterans, but also those in the other sectors of the LGBTQ community as well. Each chapter will also be trained in order to be readily available to help the LGBTQ Community during state and regional natural disasters according to Knittel. These are situations that need TAVA Chapter representatives on the scene.


The organizational meeting for TAVA Chapter of Tennessee, will be held at 6:00pm, on Saturday, 25th day of March, 2006, at Alternative Counseling Center (Saroj Chand’s building) 3105 Essary Road, Knoxville (Fountain City area), Tennessee.

The purpose of the initial meeting is to gauge interest and explain chapter information along with the incorporation process. A search for candidates for chapter officers will be on the agenda.

For further information, including how to join TAVA and the state chapter if unable to attend the organizational meeting, contact TAVA National Chapters Director Ann Marie Knittel, toll-free, at 1-877-427-3230 or e-mail local Director: tennessee_chapter_tava@yahoo.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

TAVA serves as an educational organization that assists Congress, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Department of Defense to better understand and respect transgender, intersexed and LGBTQ service members and veterans. TAVA also provides information and support
for current and former military members, including guidance on how to best work with these organizations.

To learn more about TAVA and what you can do to support transgender, intersexed and GLBT service members and veterans, visit www.tavausa.org. 
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Founded in 2003, the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) is a 501(c)(3) organization that acts proactively with other concerned LGBT organizations to ensure that transsexual, transgender, and LGBTQ veterans will receive appropriate care for medical conditions in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration Customer Service Standards promise to "treat you with courtesy and dignity … as the first class citizen that you are.” Further, TAVA will help in educating the VA and the US military on issues regarding fair and equal treatment of transgender and transsexual individuals.