Posted on Jun 8, 2021
Biden, lawmakers highlight inclusion of LGBTQ service members and Veterans
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As June’s Pride month kicked off, the Biden Administration and lawmakers in Congress highlighted efforts to be more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons in the military and Veteran communities, addressing years of past discrimination and countering new restrictions of LGBTQ rights.
Department of Defense (DOD) Press Secretary John F. Kirby, speaking to reporters earlier this month, honored the “the service, commitment, and sacrifice of our LGBTQ personnel in and out of uniform.”
He said that one of Lloyd J. Austin III’s first actions as defense secretary was implementing President Joe Biden’s Jan. 25, 2021, executive order to ensure that eligible transgender persons can serve in the military openly and free from discrimination. Biden’s order also provided a path for service members to access gender-affirming medical care.
Kirby added that the DOD under Austin’s leadership is taking “concerted action” to promote and protect LGBTQ human rights around the globe.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Kirby defended diversity and inclusion in the U.S. military from recent political attacks. Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, both Republicans, have labeled such efforts “woke ideology.”
Kirby said protecting the nation requires attracting talented volunteers to serve on — and service — aircrafts, crews and warships, and he said DOD leaders make “no apologies” for ensuring an inclusive workplace.
“If you (meet) the standards and you’re qualified to be in the military,” he said, “we want you to be able to do it free of hate and fear and discrimination.”
Inclusion is a work in progress
For the roughly 16% of active female service members and 5% of male service members who identified in a 2018 DOD survey as lesbian, gay, bisexual or some other sexual orientation, Kirby conceded these efforts are a work in progress. Indicators across several areas bear this out, both for LGBTQ personnel serving now and the estimated 1 million LGBTQ Veterans.
Military sexual assault: For instance, a RAND report released June 1, 2021, found that active duty service members who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual or who did not identify as heterosexual are sexually assaulted at disproportionate rates. Yet DOD rarely examines this issue, the report said.
RAND researchers analyzed 2016 and 2018 data from workplace and gender relations surveys of active duty members. The data showed that lesbian, gay, bisexual or nonidentifying-as-heterosexual service members represented 12% of the active population. However, they were 44% and 43% of all sexually assaulted service members in 2016 and 2018, respectively. (The survey doesn’t ask about transgender identification at all.)
“These statistics demonstrate that assaults on the minority of service members who do not describe themselves as heterosexual constitute almost half of all service members who were sexually assaulted in each of these years,” the authors said in the report. “However, we have seen little focus on sexual assaults against LGB service members in DoD prevention materials, research, or public discussion of sexual assault in the military.”
The report recommended DOD improve data collection to understand sexual assault of LGB service members and develop more inclusive sexual assault prevention strategies and materials.
Compensation and benefits: LGBTQ advocates have long argued that policies such as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” in place from 1994-2011, and the recently reversed Trans Military Ban resulted in many harms, including the wrongful discharge from the military and denial of benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
A commission is needed to study the historic and ongoing impacts of discrimination against LGBTQ service members and Veterans, argued Rep. Mark Takano, the California Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He introduced legislation to establish a panel that would hear testimony from service members and Veterans and their families, advocacy organizations and government agencies and issue remedial recommendations.
“Establishing this commission would help Americans understand the effects of anti-LGBTQ military policies, provide a path forward to rectify the injustices, and help create a welcoming culture for LGBTQ servicemembers and Veterans in the military and at VA,” Takano said.
In February, VA announced a wide-ranging review of services provided to LGBTQ Veterans and employees to ensure equity in delivery of medical and gender-affirmation care and procedures. In announcing this policy review, officials reminded LGBT Veterans that care coordinators are present at every VA facility. They can provide LGBT Veterans with access to primary care services, including hormone treatment and HIV prevention services such as PrEP.
Transgender health care: Another bill introduced in the House would prevent DOD from stationing service members who have transgender dependents in states or countries that prohibit or deny them gender-affirming health care and treatment, according to a statement by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Democrat of California, lead sponsor of the legislation. At the state level, more than 20 new anti-LGBTQ laws have passed this year, many aimed at transgender people, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
Learn more
Biden’s Pride Month proclamation: https://rly.pt/352sgKp
DOD’s policy on military service by transgender persons: https://rly.pt/2TH9LZq
List of VA programs for Veterans who are LGBTQ: https://www.va.gov/initiatives/recognizing-lgbtq-veterans-during-pride-month.
Panetta’s news release: https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-panetta-introduces-legislation-protect-transgender-military.
Pentagon press briefing transcript from June 1: https://rly.pt/2T6FRgY
RAND’s Sexual Assault of Sexual Minorities in the U.S. Military: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1390-1.html.
Takano’s news release: https://rly.pt/355Wqw5
Department of Defense (DOD) Press Secretary John F. Kirby, speaking to reporters earlier this month, honored the “the service, commitment, and sacrifice of our LGBTQ personnel in and out of uniform.”
He said that one of Lloyd J. Austin III’s first actions as defense secretary was implementing President Joe Biden’s Jan. 25, 2021, executive order to ensure that eligible transgender persons can serve in the military openly and free from discrimination. Biden’s order also provided a path for service members to access gender-affirming medical care.
Kirby added that the DOD under Austin’s leadership is taking “concerted action” to promote and protect LGBTQ human rights around the globe.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Kirby defended diversity and inclusion in the U.S. military from recent political attacks. Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, both Republicans, have labeled such efforts “woke ideology.”
Kirby said protecting the nation requires attracting talented volunteers to serve on — and service — aircrafts, crews and warships, and he said DOD leaders make “no apologies” for ensuring an inclusive workplace.
“If you (meet) the standards and you’re qualified to be in the military,” he said, “we want you to be able to do it free of hate and fear and discrimination.”
Inclusion is a work in progress
For the roughly 16% of active female service members and 5% of male service members who identified in a 2018 DOD survey as lesbian, gay, bisexual or some other sexual orientation, Kirby conceded these efforts are a work in progress. Indicators across several areas bear this out, both for LGBTQ personnel serving now and the estimated 1 million LGBTQ Veterans.
Military sexual assault: For instance, a RAND report released June 1, 2021, found that active duty service members who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual or who did not identify as heterosexual are sexually assaulted at disproportionate rates. Yet DOD rarely examines this issue, the report said.
RAND researchers analyzed 2016 and 2018 data from workplace and gender relations surveys of active duty members. The data showed that lesbian, gay, bisexual or nonidentifying-as-heterosexual service members represented 12% of the active population. However, they were 44% and 43% of all sexually assaulted service members in 2016 and 2018, respectively. (The survey doesn’t ask about transgender identification at all.)
“These statistics demonstrate that assaults on the minority of service members who do not describe themselves as heterosexual constitute almost half of all service members who were sexually assaulted in each of these years,” the authors said in the report. “However, we have seen little focus on sexual assaults against LGB service members in DoD prevention materials, research, or public discussion of sexual assault in the military.”
The report recommended DOD improve data collection to understand sexual assault of LGB service members and develop more inclusive sexual assault prevention strategies and materials.
Compensation and benefits: LGBTQ advocates have long argued that policies such as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” in place from 1994-2011, and the recently reversed Trans Military Ban resulted in many harms, including the wrongful discharge from the military and denial of benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
A commission is needed to study the historic and ongoing impacts of discrimination against LGBTQ service members and Veterans, argued Rep. Mark Takano, the California Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He introduced legislation to establish a panel that would hear testimony from service members and Veterans and their families, advocacy organizations and government agencies and issue remedial recommendations.
“Establishing this commission would help Americans understand the effects of anti-LGBTQ military policies, provide a path forward to rectify the injustices, and help create a welcoming culture for LGBTQ servicemembers and Veterans in the military and at VA,” Takano said.
In February, VA announced a wide-ranging review of services provided to LGBTQ Veterans and employees to ensure equity in delivery of medical and gender-affirmation care and procedures. In announcing this policy review, officials reminded LGBT Veterans that care coordinators are present at every VA facility. They can provide LGBT Veterans with access to primary care services, including hormone treatment and HIV prevention services such as PrEP.
Transgender health care: Another bill introduced in the House would prevent DOD from stationing service members who have transgender dependents in states or countries that prohibit or deny them gender-affirming health care and treatment, according to a statement by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Democrat of California, lead sponsor of the legislation. At the state level, more than 20 new anti-LGBTQ laws have passed this year, many aimed at transgender people, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
Learn more
Biden’s Pride Month proclamation: https://rly.pt/352sgKp
DOD’s policy on military service by transgender persons: https://rly.pt/2TH9LZq
List of VA programs for Veterans who are LGBTQ: https://www.va.gov/initiatives/recognizing-lgbtq-veterans-during-pride-month.
Panetta’s news release: https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-panetta-introduces-legislation-protect-transgender-military.
Pentagon press briefing transcript from June 1: https://rly.pt/2T6FRgY
RAND’s Sexual Assault of Sexual Minorities in the U.S. Military: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1390-1.html.
Takano’s news release: https://rly.pt/355Wqw5
LGBTQ+
Joe Biden
Policy
Law
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
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I really don’t care what you are when the shit hits the fan you better fight to save your brother or sister or ill shoot you myself
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
CPO Arthur Weinberger - Sexual assaults and complaints would go higher. Not to mention a further drop in recruitment, no thanks.
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Maj Charles Bennett
During my military service these types of members were not called "gays" and were not a welcomed addition to the unit. They brought nothing to the fight that was not already available without controversy. They inherently brought friction to a military unit that was not needed. At least they knew to keep their true identities hidden and they did so. Some finished their enlistments, some didn't. The privilege to serve comes with caveats that were written in blood. Abide by them.
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SFC Barbara Layman
Maj Charles Bennett - Most important observation
"The privilege to serve comes with caveats that were written in blood. Abide by them."
Thank you, Sir.
"The privilege to serve comes with caveats that were written in blood. Abide by them."
Thank you, Sir.
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SPC John Hopper
Just the fact you have doubt and need to question should disqualify them.
This is not like somebody who needs glasses, this is somebody who is confused and distracted. I think I will side with God on the man/woman issue.
This is not like somebody who needs glasses, this is somebody who is confused and distracted. I think I will side with God on the man/woman issue.
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LGBTQRSTUVWXYZ. acknowledging that they are different so we can mandate their inclusion is silly
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1LT Neal Schwartz
It's just another distraction from the real issues. Notice they never think of promoting something everyone might agree on.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC James Welch - after 3 sexual assaults my social media is rather limited as is my info. If folks like you don't like it I really don't give a damn.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
The military used to take men and make better men, now they take men and make children out of them, if we are ever attacked from the outside the x military will have to take over.
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TSgt Dave Beem
Back in the day. I rue the day they came out with BDU's. Anyway, they were actually sought after during WWII and Korea as they made better medics. We all knew they were in our units. But as long as they didn't play grab ass in the shower and did their jobs, the rank and file took a blind eye to it. Plenty of women as well were known to "wear comfortable shoes". But as long as you did your job to the best of your ability, your orientation didn't matter as long as you didn't push it on someone. Same with those religious evangelistic types (which were actually more offensive since we do have a constitutional separation of church and state). I remember one guy who was the commander's pet. He got outed by a gal who asked him out (he was single, never married, no kids). He literally got the creepy crawlies when she snuggled up to him at a movie theater. Funny thing, when that commander PCS'd he somehow managed to get the same assignment and followed him. TSgt too. But even he did his job well. (kissing the commander's behind seemed to be his only job, however, but he was our line badge/security guy and he did that job well.)
Now a transvestite is another matter entirely. Just like guys wearing beards in our military is, in a way. I know that today a beard might be allowed, but I never thought they looked very professional. Having been fighting in far too many "STANS", I just have that mental image of the Jihadi terrorist never being clean shaven. And that it presented a much better image to be clean shaven (at least in garrison where you COULD keep your face scraped).
But us old farts have our preconcieved ideas of what the standard military guy should look like too. With Gen Z, god only knows what a soldier, sailor, airman or coastie, or marine will look like by the time I'm dead and gone.
Anyway, they were always there (the LGBT crowd). You can go back to J Edgar Hoover with that, I imagine. To me, as long as they do their jobs and use the correct bathroom, and don't try to push themselves on me, I could live with it. And as long as the women who want to be in combat can pass the same physical requirements I had to pass (whatever the male version is today), let them come into those combat arms, but they have to meet the same requirement the males do.
Also, I always wondered how the UCMJ treated this mess under Biden. Considering when I was in, sodomy was ANY "UNNATURAL ACT" from your wife giving you a hummer to porking a pig. Adultery was always a crime (but only in the military, your civilian spouse could be a lady of the evening and you had zero recourse as a military member). So did they CHANGE that? Since the military doesn't recognize same sex marriages (that I know of) what do they do about the sodomy charge in the UCMJ?
Now a transvestite is another matter entirely. Just like guys wearing beards in our military is, in a way. I know that today a beard might be allowed, but I never thought they looked very professional. Having been fighting in far too many "STANS", I just have that mental image of the Jihadi terrorist never being clean shaven. And that it presented a much better image to be clean shaven (at least in garrison where you COULD keep your face scraped).
But us old farts have our preconcieved ideas of what the standard military guy should look like too. With Gen Z, god only knows what a soldier, sailor, airman or coastie, or marine will look like by the time I'm dead and gone.
Anyway, they were always there (the LGBT crowd). You can go back to J Edgar Hoover with that, I imagine. To me, as long as they do their jobs and use the correct bathroom, and don't try to push themselves on me, I could live with it. And as long as the women who want to be in combat can pass the same physical requirements I had to pass (whatever the male version is today), let them come into those combat arms, but they have to meet the same requirement the males do.
Also, I always wondered how the UCMJ treated this mess under Biden. Considering when I was in, sodomy was ANY "UNNATURAL ACT" from your wife giving you a hummer to porking a pig. Adultery was always a crime (but only in the military, your civilian spouse could be a lady of the evening and you had zero recourse as a military member). So did they CHANGE that? Since the military doesn't recognize same sex marriages (that I know of) what do they do about the sodomy charge in the UCMJ?
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All these extra 'benefits' and yet so many Veterans do not get adequate care of benefits.
Getting benefits b/c one simply 'is' is ridiculous. We earned ours by service not be default of skin color, who's bits and bobs we like to play with, what we 'think' we are, or some other made up subjective belief.
Getting benefits b/c one simply 'is' is ridiculous. We earned ours by service not be default of skin color, who's bits and bobs we like to play with, what we 'think' we are, or some other made up subjective belief.
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SPC Brian Mason
I don't think taxpayer dollars should be used for ANY GRS surgery, hormones, etc.
I'm not responsible for anyone's healthcare but my own. No one else is responsible for mine or anyone else's.
I'm not responsible for anyone's healthcare but my own. No one else is responsible for mine or anyone else's.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
As for me I’m 100% agent orange all I get is BULL SHIT sorry for the language but that’s what I get from the VAserved with honor and you get kicked to the curb.
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SPC Brian Mason
SGT Lorenzo Nieto -
I hate to hear that.
There's a lot more going on that most know. I know of many that are still fighting to get what they're due and when some do, they get backpay b/c of errors or some stupid B.S.
Don't give up.
I hate to hear that.
There's a lot more going on that most know. I know of many that are still fighting to get what they're due and when some do, they get backpay b/c of errors or some stupid B.S.
Don't give up.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
I was going to make a comment but decided to remove it, all I know I AM DISAPPOINTED IN MY COUNTRY AND THE VA SYSTEM THE VA A SYSTEM IS NOT FAIR FOR ALL VETERANS JUST FOR SOME EVEN IF WE GAVE 150% to this country:(
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SSG Edward Tilton
As General Grant told General Lee “ There is only one President and only one nation”
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
SSG Edward Tilton - these people serve under many the least of which is the American one
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Race doesn't matter. Gender doesn't matter. Gay/straight doesn't matter. That's what we always hear. Until they make a big deal about it so they can be "included." Dumb.
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Sgt (Join to see)
SPC Robert Conway - "And having a "Pride month" goes directly against that because now you're singling yourself out." - general use, not anyone in particular. But I'm glad you're around to tell me what I meant, Mr Mindreader.
And instead of just calling people ignorant, try harder and argue your point with some actual points instead.
Live how you want, dude, but having a month to celebrate why you're different from others, does in fact, single you out. That's pretty much the definition.
And you have no idea what I think people deserve and I sure as hell don't think that having drag queens teaching kindergartners how to twerk is appropriate. Teach that shit to your kids at home, not mine in school.
And instead of just calling people ignorant, try harder and argue your point with some actual points instead.
Live how you want, dude, but having a month to celebrate why you're different from others, does in fact, single you out. That's pretty much the definition.
And you have no idea what I think people deserve and I sure as hell don't think that having drag queens teaching kindergartners how to twerk is appropriate. Teach that shit to your kids at home, not mine in school.
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SSG Bill McCoy
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - Because, when "inclusion" includes making a special, SEPERATE recognition for a group, it's an oxymoron as it by default EXCLUDES others. What if we had a "white pride month?" That'd be even more ridiculous, but society IS changing to inclusiveness and all the special designations of another "class" of people is EXCLUSIVE of any/every other class.
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt (Join to see) - We do it to celebrate Stonewall and the LGBT community.
https://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/LynnsStory.html
https://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/LynnsStory.html
Lynn Conway is a famed pioneer of microelectronics chip design.Her innovations during the 1970's at the Xerox Palo Alto ResearchCenter (PARC) have impacted chip design worldwide. Many high-techcompanies and computing methods have foundations in her work.
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Sgt (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - Nice story. Nope, didn't bother to read it all because it's not the interesting to me. But it still proves my point.
There are many people whose contributions go unnoticed by the public and by those in their respective fields. Not just people who think they are another gender. Or another skin color. Or another religion.
Posting another story about what you see as a fight against the tyranny of an evil society and the triumph of transgenderism and homosexuality, still doesn't explain how separating yourself into a group to the exclusion of others based on some tribal ideology does not go against the inclusion ya'll say you're looking for.
There are many people whose contributions go unnoticed by the public and by those in their respective fields. Not just people who think they are another gender. Or another skin color. Or another religion.
Posting another story about what you see as a fight against the tyranny of an evil society and the triumph of transgenderism and homosexuality, still doesn't explain how separating yourself into a group to the exclusion of others based on some tribal ideology does not go against the inclusion ya'll say you're looking for.
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Well I think we have forgot the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Quite frankly it is none of my business what you do behind closed doors. But when your on the job this should not be an issue.
The New Military wants you to know everything about them including when and what kind of sex they had last, I see no reason for this to be a part of how you Soldier it does not make you a better Soldier and as of today they do not give awards for that kind of thing. If your partner, Husband, Wife, or what ever is a dependent I have no problem with that. This should not effect how you SOLDIER.
As a leader I see no need for this to effect how you Soldier how ever I need to know you have dependents how many and ages where they reside, disabilities, the same thing with every Soldier. NO I am not going to learn and entire new vocabulary so I can deal with you as a Soldier not happening.
If you find the need to stand on a soap box and proclaim you private life to the world then I find it important to remind you of the section 8. If you want to dream up Other non applicable things to make my job harder then we will deal with it one thing at a time.
Well I am special because I am a Man married to a Man.
I don't care if your married to the Presidents Sister your a Soldier first and I as a leader expect you to act like a Soldier. If doing so is a Problem we have regulations in place to fix that.
No I find no need to be more inclusive, You want a sex change pay for it and do it on your own time.
Before you say it NO I will not support you doing anything to yourself that takes away from Military training and functions. If you want the operation and you get it, and it affects how you Soldier then it would a be violation of your contract. Bye see ya! Anyway you get it. JMTC
Quite frankly it is none of my business what you do behind closed doors. But when your on the job this should not be an issue.
The New Military wants you to know everything about them including when and what kind of sex they had last, I see no reason for this to be a part of how you Soldier it does not make you a better Soldier and as of today they do not give awards for that kind of thing. If your partner, Husband, Wife, or what ever is a dependent I have no problem with that. This should not effect how you SOLDIER.
As a leader I see no need for this to effect how you Soldier how ever I need to know you have dependents how many and ages where they reside, disabilities, the same thing with every Soldier. NO I am not going to learn and entire new vocabulary so I can deal with you as a Soldier not happening.
If you find the need to stand on a soap box and proclaim you private life to the world then I find it important to remind you of the section 8. If you want to dream up Other non applicable things to make my job harder then we will deal with it one thing at a time.
Well I am special because I am a Man married to a Man.
I don't care if your married to the Presidents Sister your a Soldier first and I as a leader expect you to act like a Soldier. If doing so is a Problem we have regulations in place to fix that.
No I find no need to be more inclusive, You want a sex change pay for it and do it on your own time.
Before you say it NO I will not support you doing anything to yourself that takes away from Military training and functions. If you want the operation and you get it, and it affects how you Soldier then it would a be violation of your contract. Bye see ya! Anyway you get it. JMTC
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SGM William Everroad
I don't think of it is as a proclamation as it is protection. I have had Soldiers who were ganged up on for simply being suspected of being homosexual during DADT. If the sentiment you have stated was more prevalent we wouldn't need to talk about it now.
DADT was great for heterosexuals because we didn't have to change how we talked to anyone. But anytime a conversation, even in passing, strayed into private life, a homosexual would have to guard their speech for fear of inadvertent "outing" and the inevitable reprisal.
DADT was great for heterosexuals because we didn't have to change how we talked to anyone. But anytime a conversation, even in passing, strayed into private life, a homosexual would have to guard their speech for fear of inadvertent "outing" and the inevitable reprisal.
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SFC Robert Walton
"I have had Soldiers who were ganged up on for simply being suspected of being homosexual during DADT." Did you fix that Issue CSM?
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Does doing that make the military, stronger, faster, more efficient, and more lethal? If not, then why bother.
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SFC Robert Walton
SSG (Join to see) - More fit for service? If you have mental problems your not fit for service in the first place. Section 8 resolves that problem, that is how you narrow the 22 a day factor. If you have problem getting along with others in a reasonable way then you part of the problem not part of the answer. As a leader i am NOT a mental health Doctor we have Doctors that are trained in that field, it is not my Job to fix your mental health issues it is however my Job to guide you to the mental health professionals to fix the matter. If they find your mental health issues unacceptable for Service, being a Soldier then so be it other wise we train and Soldier the same as always. I do not support Bulling or Hazing no matter what the reason is if i find it i squash it like a bug. Not change the entire Military Training and Soldiering to fix it.
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SFC Robert Walton
SSG (Join to see) - "Look at the first person seriously injured in the post 9/11 invasion of iraq. He is a purple heart recipient. An amputee. He gave so much for this country and hid his sexuality to make those sacrifices. That's worth us as a nation to pause and recognize what that means."
Please explain how his Sexuality Made him a better Soldier? Keeping it to himself seemed to work just fine and he was and still is a fine Soldier. Again it is not your sexuality that makes a good Soldier it is how well you Train and Soldier That makes you a Soldier.
Please explain how his Sexuality Made him a better Soldier? Keeping it to himself seemed to work just fine and he was and still is a fine Soldier. Again it is not your sexuality that makes a good Soldier it is how well you Train and Soldier That makes you a Soldier.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
the goal is a political agenda not a lethality and combat efficiency one. The DOD is now a political entity and untrustworthy
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SFC Robert Walton
SSG (Join to see) - If you want to be authentic then People with mental issues would not be allowed to Join. Worked that way for years and no problems.......Until the entitled started raising their heads now you can be whatever you want to be and monetary compensated for identifying as a cat. I for one would not serve with some of the people they have in these days. They are to undependable and can not be trusted to have Soldiers back. Why do we accept people who are undeployable, untrainable, to Defend our country?
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As long as they are held to the same standards as their peers, when it comes to recruiting. You know, No major surgeries. No medical conditions. I don't see a problem. You start blurring those lines for some groups, then you have to do it for all.
Before you getting yourself all flustered, this is not so much anti LGBMNOP, as a simple question of fairness.
How many capable biological females get turned away for having a hysterectomy? Recruits get rejected for Broken bones, congenital conditions, diabetes and a myriad of other conditions, but to ignore standardized rejection criteria, just because the recruit identifies as one falling into one of the alphabet groups, brings many fairness issues into question. Especially when pharmaceutical requirements will be required.
You want to transition after you get in and can get it approved? All the power to you. What was it? $15million over the last 5 years for transition surgeries and medications throughout the armed forces? No tank this year, or one less live-fire exercise.
Spousal requirements? again, an entirely different issue. The exceptional family member program (is it still called that?) covers duty assignments and dependent medical needs. If the condition is allowed, it should not be an issue.
I am out of the loop now.
How are they handling PT standards? Are you taped by biological or preferred status? Does your PT score fall under the preferred or biological standards? Or have they done away with gender standards, making it that much harder for biological females to perform. These are a serious, not sarcastic, questions.
Before you getting yourself all flustered, this is not so much anti LGBMNOP, as a simple question of fairness.
How many capable biological females get turned away for having a hysterectomy? Recruits get rejected for Broken bones, congenital conditions, diabetes and a myriad of other conditions, but to ignore standardized rejection criteria, just because the recruit identifies as one falling into one of the alphabet groups, brings many fairness issues into question. Especially when pharmaceutical requirements will be required.
You want to transition after you get in and can get it approved? All the power to you. What was it? $15million over the last 5 years for transition surgeries and medications throughout the armed forces? No tank this year, or one less live-fire exercise.
Spousal requirements? again, an entirely different issue. The exceptional family member program (is it still called that?) covers duty assignments and dependent medical needs. If the condition is allowed, it should not be an issue.
I am out of the loop now.
How are they handling PT standards? Are you taped by biological or preferred status? Does your PT score fall under the preferred or biological standards? Or have they done away with gender standards, making it that much harder for biological females to perform. These are a serious, not sarcastic, questions.
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SSgt Salvador Martinez
Thats the problem, it will never be equal. Especially the way this government treats Christians as "domestic terrorists. no thank you.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
I went in the military in 1967 not a real good time to join but I have no regrets however back then we never Hurd anything about what your lifestyle was all the government knew it needed body’s for viet nam
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PO3 John Priest
The way I look at the situation with people in the "Alphabet mafia" is the same way I look at my straight coworkers. I don't care what your orientation or the fact you used to be a gender is, Can you do the job you wanted to get into/assigned with professionalism and competence? Do you meet the occupational requirements of the job? If so, great!
I really don't care about what you do off base/station/ship as long as you keep yourself ready to do your job when called upon and don't cause any major issues. As far as the tranisitioned folk, I say if they can afford the medications out of pocket and can do/continue to do the job as assigned, I could care less where they go to the bathroom or shower. Hell, Female quarters on combatant ships was a new experiment when I got shown the (Honorable) discharge door, and I would have worked right along with a female Gunners Mate Missile rating, or a female TM or any of the spooks and critters us crazy Sonar folks encounter. <shrug> not that big a deal.
I really don't care about what you do off base/station/ship as long as you keep yourself ready to do your job when called upon and don't cause any major issues. As far as the tranisitioned folk, I say if they can afford the medications out of pocket and can do/continue to do the job as assigned, I could care less where they go to the bathroom or shower. Hell, Female quarters on combatant ships was a new experiment when I got shown the (Honorable) discharge door, and I would have worked right along with a female Gunners Mate Missile rating, or a female TM or any of the spooks and critters us crazy Sonar folks encounter. <shrug> not that big a deal.
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5
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Biden and his crew are all worthless price of shit. When shit hits the fan I hope by God they get taken out of office and hanged for treason.
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