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 In the end, those arguments didn't work and DADT was repealed.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?
Policy
Transgender
Don't ask Don't tell (DADT)
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 156
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If you ask me I think these people are mentally unstable, so there for should be disqualified to serve in the military.
If you can look down your pants and say the opposite of what you see and then say but I feel that I'm this; well your insane and need medical help.
Guess what if I think I'm a f-ing black apache helicopter and expected everyone to call me that and hop on my back for a ride,... well I hope somebody would tell me I'm f-ing crazy and need to get some help and not actually hop on my back for a ride.
All I can say is God help us all from this crazy would we are making.
If you can look down your pants and say the opposite of what you see and then say but I feel that I'm this; well your insane and need medical help.
Guess what if I think I'm a f-ing black apache helicopter and expected everyone to call me that and hop on my back for a ride,... well I hope somebody would tell me I'm f-ing crazy and need to get some help and not actually hop on my back for a ride.
All I can say is God help us all from this crazy would we are making.
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SPC (Join to see)
Hi Jason. It's the transphobic who need help and should see a mental health professional. Perhaps it's the transphobics who should be disqualified from serving in our military. . . .
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PO1 (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - Well I don't agree with you and I still think my answer is the best. We will see how gets more thumbs up
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I believe these people have a real problem. They have no business in the military as a fighting force. Only civilian desk/office jobs. Not alongside real fighting men and real women. As a veteran myself, I would not serve the same next to any.
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SPC (Join to see)
Hi John. "Not alongside real fighting men and real women." Define "real." Transgenders are "real" fighting men and women!
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SGT (Join to see)
Sgt John Shatesky. As a Trans Veteran I would not want to serve with a bigot as yourself. Your ignorance will and does get people killed. BTW your words are the very words used to keep Blacks,Women and Gays out of the military.
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SPC (Join to see)
Hi (Anonymous). Thank you for being HONEST about who you are! As a result, I'll be honest too. I am a Gay Veteran, although when I volunteered for service in the United States Army during the Vietnam War Era, I was so repressed and in such deep denial as to who I truly am that I said I was str8, and I was able to "pass" even to myself.
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I think that it will be very soon. When one joins the military for their country one does not see race, religion, sex we are all brothers and sisters in arms!
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PO1 Autumn Sandeen It takes the military years to accept change. The conservative nature of most military people is the main reason. The changes will be accepted slowly, painfully and in small increments, but they will come.
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TSgt John Temblador, PI, CIPA
This event does not only bleed over to the military..., but it affects the children also... NOW! Did you know: The very safety and security of our children in public schools is under attack! Sacramento, California Legislatures want to experiment on our children! THIS IS WRONG! Privacy For All exists to protect privacy in restrooms, showers, locker rooms, and changing rooms in government buildings. We do so by asserting that individuals should use these facilities in accordance with their biological sex, rather than their gender identity. Join us in standing for Privacy For All.
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Do I agree with the LGBT life style no I don't. But do I belive we should say a person that wants to serve can because of their life style NO. There are people who say Transgender people can't serve because they are mental I'll. Well that Transgender Navy SEAL proved you can and he is the one who was in the news. How bout all of the the ones that serve in silent. We are a volunteer service we should not restrict it unless you are deemed medical unfit.
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Transgender in the military: A Pentagon in transition weighs its policy
Sgt. Shane Ortega enlisted as a woman. He now identifies as a man. Rules call for him to be discharged. But he expects to resume his full duties soon.
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LCpl Hector Verduzco
In this case i believe that it should have never been addressed because most of us like to remain anonymous or as we Lance Criminals and Below say " Stay under the radar". Don't get me wrong, i have nothing against transgenders but i would rather be recognized by my service and not by my sexuality. We all took an Oath to serve our country not to judge each other and frown upon each other.
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COL Ted Mc
SGT Rick Ash - Spec; What happened to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is that it got repealed as a silly and stupid measure which should never have been implemented and which was frequently used in a mean, petty, and vindictive way to deny service members their rights.
I suppose that the only "Christian" thing to do is to bring it back so that long service people can be kicked out just short of their pensions being vested on the grounds that they are exactly what 99% of the people who had worked with them for the past 25+ years had known they were all along.
I suppose that the only "Christian" thing to do is to bring it back so that long service people can be kicked out just short of their pensions being vested on the grounds that they are exactly what 99% of the people who had worked with them for the past 25+ years had known they were all along.
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My understanding is that only about 1 in 300 Americans is transgender. If we then remove from the pool of potential applicants all those who believe they may need surgical alteration, are in the process of making that change or who are recovering from having made that change... we are probably down to 1 in 500. If 1 in 500 of the people eligible to enter the military are Transgender, and manage to join up... I fail to see how most people are going to see any big changes, even after the change has taken place.
I can see how it's a a huge deal if your transgender... I don't see why anyone things this will have a big impact on the services.
I can see how it's a a huge deal if your transgender... I don't see why anyone things this will have a big impact on the services.
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You know, being in the service for over 17 plus years I dont think it should matter. If you want to serve, then serve. Can we has a society stop placing priorities on a persons sexuality, or sexual preference and start concentrating on all of our security's as a country.
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