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PRIDE Month may have ended in June, but I reflect on the incredible gift that occurred five years ago.
Five years ago, the Secretary of Defense Ash Carter stepped to the podium and announced open service for transgender individuals. I cried. Big crocodile tears. I was so overwhelmed with the breakthrough of freedom at that moment.
In an instant, I no longer had to hide. I no longer had to fear who might find out my secret. To whom can I trust this? What about my kids and might they inadvertently say something innocently to a friend, and in that innocence, end my career? When I was investigated for my security clearance, the investigator and I danced around whether or not I would reveal this (at the time) career-ending information in order to be honest. I did and waited with fear, apprehension, and uncertainty. As it turned out, in that case, my fears were unfounded - yes, the investigation had sussed out my secret, but to answer whether I could be blackmailed with that secret, they were satisfied that I could not.
Five years.
With that announcement, everything got easy, right? Certainly! and... no. In some ways, it became more difficult. I went from one of a crowd to an example. There were standards, and then there were standards to ensure that I didn't let my transgender advocates and comrades down. That I didn't lend voice to vile rumors and lies about the capability of transgender individuals to serve their country.
I had no way to know that in just thirteen months, I and all of my fellow transgender Servicemembers would be 'fired' by my Commander-in-Chief. By Tweet. I remember how that felt in a campground deep in rural Minnesota as I learned that the fear was back. Did I have a job? Did I have a future? What awaited me when I returned from vacation?
And so that hung out there... those of us already 'out' were allowed to hang on to our jobs, while no more could come in. The message to the Force was clear - just wait, and eventually, they'll all be gone.
A few years later, I still had my job. Not everyone did, including one notable superior.
Lawsuits were filed. Policies argued. Targets felt clearly upon one's back, and in some cases, even more assuredly on one's forehead. Hatred was given permission. It became *more* of a struggle to be out in the hostility than perhaps it had been to be closeted in the first place.
Which fear is more gripping?
And then, open service was restored. First, by Executive Order 14004. That was a magnificent day. It was an amazing feeling, and Servicemembers know this, to *know* that your leadership 'has your six'. Over the ensuing months, the policies were developed, and soon, by June 2021, we were able to successfully return to where we'd started - five years previous.
In that time, I have made many more connections, grown in my personal and professional lives, and my area of influence has grown demonstrably. I've developed a new sense of mission to ensure that as my time in the military comes to an end, that those who follow behind me will have fewer issues and be more able to concentrate on the mission embedded in our oath - "to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
I couldn't be prouder.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?412040-1/defense-secretary-ashton-carter-lifts-ban-transgender-service-members
Five years ago, the Secretary of Defense Ash Carter stepped to the podium and announced open service for transgender individuals. I cried. Big crocodile tears. I was so overwhelmed with the breakthrough of freedom at that moment.
In an instant, I no longer had to hide. I no longer had to fear who might find out my secret. To whom can I trust this? What about my kids and might they inadvertently say something innocently to a friend, and in that innocence, end my career? When I was investigated for my security clearance, the investigator and I danced around whether or not I would reveal this (at the time) career-ending information in order to be honest. I did and waited with fear, apprehension, and uncertainty. As it turned out, in that case, my fears were unfounded - yes, the investigation had sussed out my secret, but to answer whether I could be blackmailed with that secret, they were satisfied that I could not.
Five years.
With that announcement, everything got easy, right? Certainly! and... no. In some ways, it became more difficult. I went from one of a crowd to an example. There were standards, and then there were standards to ensure that I didn't let my transgender advocates and comrades down. That I didn't lend voice to vile rumors and lies about the capability of transgender individuals to serve their country.
I had no way to know that in just thirteen months, I and all of my fellow transgender Servicemembers would be 'fired' by my Commander-in-Chief. By Tweet. I remember how that felt in a campground deep in rural Minnesota as I learned that the fear was back. Did I have a job? Did I have a future? What awaited me when I returned from vacation?
And so that hung out there... those of us already 'out' were allowed to hang on to our jobs, while no more could come in. The message to the Force was clear - just wait, and eventually, they'll all be gone.
A few years later, I still had my job. Not everyone did, including one notable superior.
Lawsuits were filed. Policies argued. Targets felt clearly upon one's back, and in some cases, even more assuredly on one's forehead. Hatred was given permission. It became *more* of a struggle to be out in the hostility than perhaps it had been to be closeted in the first place.
Which fear is more gripping?
And then, open service was restored. First, by Executive Order 14004. That was a magnificent day. It was an amazing feeling, and Servicemembers know this, to *know* that your leadership 'has your six'. Over the ensuing months, the policies were developed, and soon, by June 2021, we were able to successfully return to where we'd started - five years previous.
In that time, I have made many more connections, grown in my personal and professional lives, and my area of influence has grown demonstrably. I've developed a new sense of mission to ensure that as my time in the military comes to an end, that those who follow behind me will have fewer issues and be more able to concentrate on the mission embedded in our oath - "to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
I couldn't be prouder.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?412040-1/defense-secretary-ashton-carter-lifts-ban-transgender-service-members
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Pride
Equality
Transgender
LGBTQ+
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 33
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Must respectfully disagree. I don't disrespect transgenders but many questions come to mind like if they're fit for duty-especially combat and if they are serving for the right reason. I've heard that there are people joining up to get a free sex change from the government and getting out after 3-4 years while being non-deployable almost the whole time.
Just sharing a thought not looking to start an argument. Again I say this respectfully
Just sharing a thought not looking to start an argument. Again I say this respectfully
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SFC Lyle Green
SGT (Join to see) - Thank goodness! Your "worth / better Meter", appears to have Wet Toilet paper as it's "Best Position". I would and always will strive to be your worst enemy, or far above the likes of you, on " The value of society and quality of life" Meter.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Your prejudice is showing, "fit for duty" is determined in many ways that doesn't involve one's sexual status.
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Jeremy Griffin
I've heard that there are people joining up to get a free University Tuition from the government and getting out after 3-4 years while being non-deployable almost the whole time.
Just sharing a thought not looking to start an argument. Again I say this respectfully.
Just sharing a thought not looking to start an argument. Again I say this respectfully.
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I salute you, SSG Stanley. I was obviously not "out" in the Army (back in 1966-68). Nobody was. But I knew gay soldiers there, of course. Some worked in the mess hall, others in admin (like me), one was personal aide to the 2nd AD HQ commanding General, and some were career sergeants. I suspected that some commissioned officers wee secretly gay. It's better times now, and a diverse military is a more cohesive military.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Our B-52 copilot in Vietnam was gay. Of course that had to be kept secret but it didn't keep him from being a Standardization Evaluation Instructor, ie. one of the best in the Wing.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Exactly, I don't get why some men like some women, and the other way around, but as long as they're happy and can do their job who cares!
(4)
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