‘So. Tell Me. Are You Transgender?’ — After DADT: Transgender Life In The US

[Amelia Pond]

'So. Tell Me. Are You Transgender?' — After DADT: Transgender Life In The US Military
AUGUST 10, 2013

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/so-tell-me-are-you-transgender-after-dadt-transgender-life-in-the-us-military/news/2013/08/10/72774

Virtually every lesbian and gay service member remembers the terror of being discovered. Many had the experience of thinking they may have been outed, and sweating through days, weeks, or months dreading that moment when the hammer might fall. During those months many experienced all the physiological side effects of prolonged and extreme stress. A few even had those fears realized when they got called into the office of their superiors and asked the question that meant the end of everything they had fought to achieve in their career.

"Close the door."

"Have a seat."

"So. Tell me. Are you gay?"

For those who have had that experience, you remember the blood rushing in your ears, the panic, time grinding to a halt and your field of vision narrowing as your blood pressure spikes with adrenaline.  Pure fight or flight, and yet, there you stood or sat, motionless and fighting every instinct written into your biology.

This is where Charlotte was several weeks ago, with one small change.

"Close the door."

"Have a seat."

"So. Tell me. Are you transgender?"

[Amelia Pond]

Transgender Military Equality: The Time Is Now
AUGUST 12, 2013

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/transgender-military-equality-the-time-is-now/analysis/2013/08/12/72948

Each of the service members profiled has gained because they are all very good at what they do. This is also something we saw near the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Many commands turned a blind eye toward lesbian and gay service members because they did not want to lose capable people who significantly contributed to unit effectiveness.

At the same time, each of these transgender service members knows that it is only a matter of time before they are kicked out. Eventually, they will fall under someone who won't judge them based on their character and abilities, but on preconceived notions. Such judgments are antithetical to our nation's cultural core values. If biases based on how a person looks or sounds are morally indefensible in general, why should they be acceptable in the case of transgender people?

We realize the military must have medical standards. However, these regulations should be based on sound medical science and empirical evidence, and not based on naked animus toward a suspect class of people.

[Kaitlin4475]

Apparently I didn't clean my makeup off very well the night before because at work quite a few people in my shop asked if I had worn eyeliner, of course I said no way and a few people even vouched for me saying that I just had long eye lashes (thankfully I do ) but this one girl kept insisting, "I swear it looks like you were wearing eye makeup." I about sunk into my chair with cold chills, the Air Force may not be as "macho" as other branches are portrayed but there are a lot of people in my shop that are anti anything other than the norm. It seems to be in the culture

[Jamie D]

Regarding the first-posted news item.

I really like the way the First Sergeant handled the situation.