Posted on Jan 26, 2015
When, Not If, Will We See Open Transgender Military Service?
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On November 23, 2014, the Palm Center released a statement entitled "Military Services Have Failed To Comply With New Defense Department Rules On Transgender Personnel."
http://www.palmcenter.org/files/services%20out%20of%20compliance%20memo.pdf
This followed a report from last March where former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders led a group that concluded there were no sound medical reasons why transgender people couldn't serve in the military services. It also followed an August report outlining a blueprint for how transgender people can be integrated into the military services - integrated much in the same way as 18 of our allies have already accomplished within their military services.
Military Times covered release of this latest report by the Palm Center. "A change to a Pentagon personnel policy three months ago loosens the rules barring transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military," stated the Army and Navy Times in their article entitled Report: Loophole could allow transgender troops to serve under new DoD policy, "giving the individual services leeway to retain these personnel." The article further stated, "The update -- to Defense Department Instruction 1332.18, Disability Evaluation System -- provides a loophole for the services to let transgender troops serve instead of requiring administrative separation, the Palm Center says."
The same socially conservative religious organizations that argued against repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) such as the Center for Military Readiness, the Center for Security Policy, and the Family Research Council, are using almost identical arguments. In the end, those arguments didn't work and DADT was repealed.
DADT was a federal law passed in 1993 that barred lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) service members from serving openly in the military services, and the law needed repeal before LGB service members could serve openly in recent years. All that bars transgender people from serving openly now is the DoD and individual service regulations. And, it appears that the overarching DoD regulation was weakened last August so that the four DoD military services could change their rules now to allow open transgender service.
The military didn't implode when LGB service members could serve openly in the American military services; the military won't implode if – or when - transgender service members can serve openly in the American military services. Honestly, does anybody currently serving in the military, who has given more than a moment's thought to this, really believe there won't come a point in the next five years or so where transgender service members are serving openly? I think most people who've put some thought into this know that it's not a question of whether America will have openly transgender service members at some point, but rather a question of when we'll have it.
So with that in mind, do you agree it's a question of "when" and not "if"? And if you agree it's a "when," how soon do you believe we'll see open transgender military service?
http://www.palmcenter.org/files/services%20out%20of%20compliance%20memo.pdf
This followed a report from last March where former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders led a group that concluded there were no sound medical reasons why transgender people couldn't serve in the military services. It also followed an August report outlining a blueprint for how transgender people can be integrated into the military services - integrated much in the same way as 18 of our allies have already accomplished within their military services.
Military Times covered release of this latest report by the Palm Center. "A change to a Pentagon personnel policy three months ago loosens the rules barring transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military," stated the Army and Navy Times in their article entitled Report: Loophole could allow transgender troops to serve under new DoD policy, "giving the individual services leeway to retain these personnel." The article further stated, "The update -- to Defense Department Instruction 1332.18, Disability Evaluation System -- provides a loophole for the services to let transgender troops serve instead of requiring administrative separation, the Palm Center says."
The same socially conservative religious organizations that argued against repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) such as the Center for Military Readiness, the Center for Security Policy, and the Family Research Council, are using almost identical arguments. In the end, those arguments didn't work and DADT was repealed.
DADT was a federal law passed in 1993 that barred lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) service members from serving openly in the military services, and the law needed repeal before LGB service members could serve openly in recent years. All that bars transgender people from serving openly now is the DoD and individual service regulations. And, it appears that the overarching DoD regulation was weakened last August so that the four DoD military services could change their rules now to allow open transgender service.
The military didn't implode when LGB service members could serve openly in the American military services; the military won't implode if – or when - transgender service members can serve openly in the American military services. Honestly, does anybody currently serving in the military, who has given more than a moment's thought to this, really believe there won't come a point in the next five years or so where transgender service members are serving openly? I think most people who've put some thought into this know that it's not a question of whether America will have openly transgender service members at some point, but rather a question of when we'll have it.
So with that in mind, do you agree it's a question of "when" and not "if"? And if you agree it's a "when," how soon do you believe we'll see open transgender military service?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 156
I think that depends a lot on what happens with the current presidential race. If a Democrat wins then it will probably be in the next 10 years. If a Republican wins then it will probably be a little while longer.
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SSG (Join to see)
it is time to stop the social experimentation with our military and put an end to this LGBT openly serving and get back to the business of defending this countryfrom all enemies both foreign and domestic ie liberals, LGBT, Terrorist, Muslim extremist, the Muslim Bortherhood, Obama, Hillary, ect.
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I am so tired of being used as a social experiment for the liberal left. We have always had these in the military only we didn't ask they didn't tell and we got along just fine. You liberals don't understand we don't have TIME to worry about what bathroom you need to you when we are being SHOT at by people who WANT TO KILL US!
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1SG (Join to see)
I bet you were bent out of shape when black people were able to serve in white units.
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I think the largest thing is ensuring no problems with uniforms or berthing/barracks issues. The push for a unisex uniform will probably come just before their decision to do so. It is almost complete. There are a lot of things that need to be cleared up before they do that - not simply a cultural shift. It's coming. I could see the changes being made to make this happen before I retired. I would say that in the next 1-5 years it will be accomplished. In the terms of your IT folks, "We're working on it."
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Open should not be a mandatory option. But there should be no punishment or predudice shown unless the status is the cause of a non-optimized mission ready situation or circumstance. Commander's call.
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its a free country....atm anyway. I dont agree with the gay,lesbian,transgender lifestyle but they probably dont agree with mine. I have no rational argument that holds ground to deny any free human being the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Following that same tolerance I would expect that religious chaplins who disagree on religous grounds be given the same benefit. My right to religous freedom should not be trumped by your right to sexual preference....its called tolerance because we tolerate the differences we dont agree with and still treat everyone with the dignity required of a fellow free human being.
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Why not know, being in the military is about who you like to sleep with. And why not Obama has said that a boy who wants to be a girl can change in there locker room. and the girls have no say. Bruce Jenner has made it cool and know everyone wants on the band wagon.
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Not really directly related to the article, but it sets a precedence and would have the same issue and outcome in the services. See attached article.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/illinois-school-must-give-transgender-student-access-locker-room-feds-n456601
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/illinois-school-must-give-transgender-student-access-locker-room-feds-n456601
Transgender Student Can't be Stopped From Using Girls' Locker Room: Feds
An Illinois school district is breaking the law by denying a transgender student full access to the girls' locker room, Department of Education says.
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SSG Gene Carroll SR.
Sound like we need to stand up and take some action, with our government officials.
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