Posted on Mar 14, 2018
How do I address a transgender or gender fluid officer?
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I am afraid that the military will update UCMJ for “misgendering” persons, if I was approached by an officer am I now supposed to ask what to call him/her/them and all the other confusing pronouns? And I do end up having to do that how do you go about asking a person how they identify?
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Transgender
Transgender
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 39
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Simple solution to what could one day be a complex problem (I sincerely hope not). Simply refer to them by rank as it is already gender neutral. Yes LT, No CPT, etc... will suffice quite well.
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If you're approached by an Officer, address them by their rank. If you feel the need or want to ask them their gender, if you feel that it applies in context to your professional relationship with them, then just ask. This advice applies to your enlisted counterparts as well.
Good on you for being proactive, it bodes well for your future that you want to be seen as doing the right thing and asking questions that maybe aren't all that clear or may be uncomfortable for other people to ask.
Lastly, don't be afraid, just be aware: If you're corrected by someone for misgendering them, Officer or Enlisted, respect them. Chances are, you won't have hurt their feelings. They're human beings, too, it happens, and they get it: they're here to get the job done, same as you, so don't get too caught up about it, don't get too caught up with hurt feelings, because they don't really matter as much as getting the job done.
What matters is if you're trying, because that's all we ever ask you to do is try your best and give it your all, even the little things that are important to some people and stupid to other people, because those little things are what trains you to be ready for the big things. Attention to detail and all that.
Good on you for being proactive, it bodes well for your future that you want to be seen as doing the right thing and asking questions that maybe aren't all that clear or may be uncomfortable for other people to ask.
Lastly, don't be afraid, just be aware: If you're corrected by someone for misgendering them, Officer or Enlisted, respect them. Chances are, you won't have hurt their feelings. They're human beings, too, it happens, and they get it: they're here to get the job done, same as you, so don't get too caught up about it, don't get too caught up with hurt feelings, because they don't really matter as much as getting the job done.
What matters is if you're trying, because that's all we ever ask you to do is try your best and give it your all, even the little things that are important to some people and stupid to other people, because those little things are what trains you to be ready for the big things. Attention to detail and all that.
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You don't because the military should not be allowing these weirdos to serve with a mental condition. You walk away and pretend like they don't exist because transgender/gender fluid/whatever is a damn fairy tale and doesn't exist; just like unicorns... And you can't address crap that doesn't exist...
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SPC David Willis
SGT Joseph Gunderson - Mmm doubt my knowledge of the law or lack there of will put me in prison or drive me to commit crimes but nice strawman you've built. You're basically saying the same thing I am just phrasing it differently. Mental illness is typically not brought up unless its being used as a defense and if it is if its proven to exist its typically proven to have had a hand in the commission of a crime. No lawyer has ever argued "my client is a schizoid, but during the murder he was of clear mind."
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SPC David Willis
SSgt Addison R. - Cafeteria Christians are the best.
"Yes Id like a large bigotry meal but please hold the side of sleeping with my sister, and absolutely no verses about judging others, loving everyone or cutting off my enemies dicks to give as a wedding present to my father in law on top please."
"Yes Id like a large bigotry meal but please hold the side of sleeping with my sister, and absolutely no verses about judging others, loving everyone or cutting off my enemies dicks to give as a wedding present to my father in law on top please."
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SPC David Willis
PO2 David Dunlap so God has no hand in things that were made after Jesus? That's your answer? If that's the case you shouldn't have an issue with transgender in the military since it's an issue created AFTER the invention of chocolate, which, by your own logic God was checked out for. But if God was all powerful and didn't make mistakes he probably wouldn't allow for one of his creations (chocolate) to kill another (dogs). It's a silly comparison I admit. But it's a great question to ask if God really doesn't make mistakes.
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SPC David Willis
PO2 David Dunlap Also the fact that you picked the silliest of my questions and examples to criticize doesn't escape me.
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I feel bad for you son. I have no idea what to recommend to you. Check with your 1st. SGT & CO. I guess as long as it is apparent that you are trying to be respectful that should do it for now. Good luck man!
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SPC (Join to see)
I appreciate it SSG it’s kind of a whirlwind I joined ther Army to carry out my mission and learn what tools and actions I need to take to do that, now I feel like I need to take a gender studies course in order to not ruin my career
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You wouldn't be the first person to call a Ma'am "Sir" and you won't be punished for it.
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Just be respectful. If they look male, call them Sir. If they look female, call them Ma'am. Hopefully, if you're in this position, they've addressed you and the voice should help you figure it out. If they look male, have a deeper voice and select a masculine haircut for themselves...honestly, they shouldn't be upset you think they're a man. I don't see it happening to much the other way since a male can't wear their hair long, as a female can.
If you're just in passing and rendering courtesy, salute and yell HOOAH. I've done that before, myself.
If you're just in passing and rendering courtesy, salute and yell HOOAH. I've done that before, myself.
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Don't be scared it's not fucking serious. If you don't know just fucking ask the person. These are soldiers first last and foremost we ain't snowflakes. Now you do it intentionally with malice expect an assignment chewing.
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SPC (Join to see) Just address the Soldier, NCO or Officer by their rank and name. If you must know someone's gender, and they out rank you then that's on you. It's honestly important for me when it's about grading the APFT, helping a urinalysis, and to maintain the uniform standards. When it's off-duty I don't care what they do or what they identity as, as long as it's ethical, moral and legal.
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