Posted on Sep 9, 2015
US Military Transgender Service Ban: Research Shows Trans People Twice As Likely As Members Of...
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"US Military Transgender Service Ban: Research Shows Trans People Twice As Likely As Members Of General Population To Serve In Armed Forces"
From: IB Times
As the Pentagon considers an end to its ban on transgender people serving in the United States military, evidence is growing that transgender individuals join the armed services at a rate much higher than previously thought, the Los Angeles Times reported. The theory, which was first proposed by Dr. George Brown of East Tennessee State University in the 1980s, could prove crucial as advocates fight to end the ban, which the military could do by 2016.
Brown developed his assertion while serving as a psychiatry resident at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In a subsequent 1988 research paper, Brown theorized that transgender individuals – both male-to-female and female-to-male – were drawn to military service because of what he called a “flight into hypermasculinity.” They’d join the military to prove their manhood, often due to an inability to accept their identity.
“I just kept hearing the same story over and over,” Brown told the LA Times.
A 2014 study by University of California Los Angeles academics estimated that 21 percent of the United States’ transgender population – about 150,000 people – had served in the armed forces. The service rate among the general population is 10 percent. In that study, researchers said a review of Veterans Health Administration records from 2000 to 2011 found former service members presented Gender Identity Disorder five times more often than the country’s general population, Navy Times reported.
Separate research by Gary Gates of UCLA’s Williams Institute, which studies gender identity policy issues, estimated three of every 1,000 American citizens is transgender, LA Times noted.
Researchers have yet to determine a statistical consensus for the rate of transgender service in the military. The U.S. Census Bureau does not track the data necessary to provide a national figure.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced a review of the Pentagon’s policy on transgender military service last July. As part of the review, officials will conduct a six-month study to determine how lifting the ban would affect military cohesion and effectiveness, the Associated Press reported in July. Carter stressed the study would occur with an initial assumption that transgender service wouldn’t have a negative impact.
"The Defense Department's current regulations regarding transgender service members are outdated and are causing uncertainty that distracts commanders from our core missions," Carter said in a statement in July. "At a time when our troops have learned from experience that the most important qualification for service members should be whether they're able and willing to do their job, our officers and enlisted personnel are faced with certain rules that tell them the opposite."
http://www.ibtimes.com/us-military-transgender-service-ban-research-shows-trans-people-twice-likely-members-2084521
From: IB Times
As the Pentagon considers an end to its ban on transgender people serving in the United States military, evidence is growing that transgender individuals join the armed services at a rate much higher than previously thought, the Los Angeles Times reported. The theory, which was first proposed by Dr. George Brown of East Tennessee State University in the 1980s, could prove crucial as advocates fight to end the ban, which the military could do by 2016.
Brown developed his assertion while serving as a psychiatry resident at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In a subsequent 1988 research paper, Brown theorized that transgender individuals – both male-to-female and female-to-male – were drawn to military service because of what he called a “flight into hypermasculinity.” They’d join the military to prove their manhood, often due to an inability to accept their identity.
“I just kept hearing the same story over and over,” Brown told the LA Times.
A 2014 study by University of California Los Angeles academics estimated that 21 percent of the United States’ transgender population – about 150,000 people – had served in the armed forces. The service rate among the general population is 10 percent. In that study, researchers said a review of Veterans Health Administration records from 2000 to 2011 found former service members presented Gender Identity Disorder five times more often than the country’s general population, Navy Times reported.
Separate research by Gary Gates of UCLA’s Williams Institute, which studies gender identity policy issues, estimated three of every 1,000 American citizens is transgender, LA Times noted.
Researchers have yet to determine a statistical consensus for the rate of transgender service in the military. The U.S. Census Bureau does not track the data necessary to provide a national figure.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced a review of the Pentagon’s policy on transgender military service last July. As part of the review, officials will conduct a six-month study to determine how lifting the ban would affect military cohesion and effectiveness, the Associated Press reported in July. Carter stressed the study would occur with an initial assumption that transgender service wouldn’t have a negative impact.
"The Defense Department's current regulations regarding transgender service members are outdated and are causing uncertainty that distracts commanders from our core missions," Carter said in a statement in July. "At a time when our troops have learned from experience that the most important qualification for service members should be whether they're able and willing to do their job, our officers and enlisted personnel are faced with certain rules that tell them the opposite."
http://www.ibtimes.com/us-military-transgender-service-ban-research-shows-trans-people-twice-likely-members-2084521
LGBTQ+
Service
Transgender
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 44
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I'm going to pose a simple solution (that may not be totally appropriate).
Treat it as an elective medical ?process? ?Procedure?. After all to my knowledge the Military doesn't provide for a flat chested woman to get breast augmentation (to my knowledge, it's been 20 years since I wore the uniform). In addition, signing up for the Military is a contract... just underscore the idea that someone is expected to be in uniform in the gender they signed the contract as (that's why there's male and female grooming standards and dress uniforms).
When you start trying to exclude one group or another from service it opens all kinds of things up to debate and legal wrangling, and the real question "Does it help or hurt the mission" gets lost. I served along side female, gay, and lesbian soldiers and they didn't have any problem doing the job. Sure sometimes the females were ...distracting... but so were Gameboy's and Spades tournaments.
I see Trans-gendered asking for the DOD to pay for gender reassignment the same way I see Illegal immigrants complaining about being asked for identification during a traffic stop. It's asinine to even think about debating it.
Treat it as an elective medical ?process? ?Procedure?. After all to my knowledge the Military doesn't provide for a flat chested woman to get breast augmentation (to my knowledge, it's been 20 years since I wore the uniform). In addition, signing up for the Military is a contract... just underscore the idea that someone is expected to be in uniform in the gender they signed the contract as (that's why there's male and female grooming standards and dress uniforms).
When you start trying to exclude one group or another from service it opens all kinds of things up to debate and legal wrangling, and the real question "Does it help or hurt the mission" gets lost. I served along side female, gay, and lesbian soldiers and they didn't have any problem doing the job. Sure sometimes the females were ...distracting... but so were Gameboy's and Spades tournaments.
I see Trans-gendered asking for the DOD to pay for gender reassignment the same way I see Illegal immigrants complaining about being asked for identification during a traffic stop. It's asinine to even think about debating it.
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SPC Donald Moore
It should be considered elective surgery and the government should not be paying for it. Simple as that.
I think that the whole reason they join is for the free surgery.
I think that the whole reason they join is for the free surgery.
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SPC David Hannaman
SPC Donald Moore - Then shame on us for offering it. Same could be said about unemployment... I keep hearing "I make more drawing unemployment than I can at any of the jobs I've been offered."... makes me want to puke, or throat-punch, or throat-punch and then puke, but I can't really blame them either... what idiot turns down free money?!
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So what? The military should stop being used for these social experiments.
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree remember Bruce Jenner now he wants to be a a man again .And he is extremely depressed . There is a Harvard study that there is a 82% more of chance for transgenders to commit suicide than other genders.
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Maj (Join to see)
SSG Diane R. - It's actually closer to 40%. That's with or without surgery. And that is a *significant* number.
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PO1 Don Watkins
People with the transgender mental illness should not be able to join the military. This is a illness that needs to be treated and not glorified or made to think they are special.
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SSG Jacey R.
PO1 Don Watkins - I guess it is a good thing that transgender is not a mental illness. Transgender have been serving their country without issues. There is a well known from WW2.
I am extremely confused as to how you think someone is glorified just by being able to serve openly as their true self, that doesn't mean they think they are special.
Why do think you are so special to decide who is qualified and who is mentally ill? It is your opinion and you are entitled to your own opinion, be right or wrong; but you should not try telling someone they think. I have not met a transgender person that thinks being transgender makes them special.
I am extremely confused as to how you think someone is glorified just by being able to serve openly as their true self, that doesn't mean they think they are special.
Why do think you are so special to decide who is qualified and who is mentally ill? It is your opinion and you are entitled to your own opinion, be right or wrong; but you should not try telling someone they think. I have not met a transgender person that thinks being transgender makes them special.
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SPC Kevin Ford
Gay used to be classified as a mental illness. Such classifications are normally created and latched on to by people to support their bigotry.
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SGT (Join to see)
Capt Seid Waddell Its not z mental problem it is a biological problem. This is how they are born. Your ignorance on the subject is glaring.
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