Trans in the military

[wrabbit]

So I bet you thought this was a thread about me whining about how unfair it is~
Well, I'll give you a gist about what happened to me recently.

I'm in the Air Force. About 8 months ago I got on T, but I didn't know any better about how to go about getting meds without using military clinics, so I just used a civilian doctor. 3 months pass, and a few snitches, and all of a sudden they're confiscating my T from me, and even though I clearly explain to them that I have a prescription, and they know from context that I'm trans, they try and discharge me for "steroid abuse". Meanwhile they haven't tried to address any of my needs, and I've been off the T for a while, being stressed from the whole government trying to accuse me for abusing drugs (that is how it would've shown up on my discharge papers- drug abuse). So after lots of effort and help from the legal defense team here, I was able to prove I indeed had a prescription, and now know that a certain AFI (air force instruction) says that I cannot be kicked out for being transgender if it doesn't directly cause me to be unable to do my job- which it doesn't.

So after 5 months of being OFF testosterone, I am finally able to start taking it again next week, when my meds come in. PHEW.

So what's the big deal? Apparently there IS a way to do it, but I might've accidentally slipped in a legal crack, so to speak.
You can't come in WHILE you're transitioning, because it's a medical DQ once they check you at initial processing.
and if you try and start while you're in service, the doctors will not prescribe or refer you- I know because I did speak to a doctor and those were his words- he would not personally prescribe or refer me for T.
I'm really unsure how to do it by the books, and the way I did it caused me a lot of hardship and now I'm pretty sure my higher ups are slamming their fists on the wall because they couldn't "get" me. But there IS a way- I just wanted to let you all know that.

-Ya buddy Eddy

[Nygeel]

They're supposed to discharge you once you've come out as being trans. At least in the US.

[aleon515]

Well I suppose there are any number of people that have/are serving. It's really "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The repeal of DOAT, has nothing to do with Trans people and the repeal didn't apply to us. I believe they may be going it's a mental and/or medical condition which needs treatment. (They aren't so cool re: any number of other highly treatable conditions either-- kind of in the 19th C actually.) Some people don't care that they may be discovered and kicked out. I know someone who wants to serve so badly he feels this way. There are exceptions. I know someone in NM who came out in his National Guard section (or whatever you call this). The CO knows but is completely supportive. Even allowed him to get out of gendered exercises (men over there, women over here). I don't know how things are going as he stopped coming to group. There is the whole gendered thing. In the Guard you are constantly training, but in the other services I suppose some of this decreases once you get thru basic. But there is still the uniforms and all and different services. The other thing I don't know is what your status is if you get discharged. Some gays are still fighting dishonorable discharge status. Because trans is considered a condition of some kind, not sure that applies??


--Jay

[wrabbit]

Well I suppose there are any number of people that have/are serving. It's really "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The repeal of DOAT, has nothing to do with Trans people and the repeal didn't apply to us. I believe they may be going it's a mental and/or medical condition which needs treatment. (They aren't so cool re: any number of other highly treatable conditions either-- kind of in the 19th C actually.) Some people don't care that they may be discovered and kicked out. I know someone who wants to serve so badly he feels this way. There are exceptions. I know someone in NM who came out in his National Guard section (or whatever you call this). The CO knows but is completely supportive. Even allowed him to get out of gendered exercises (men over there, women over here). I don't know how things are going as he stopped coming to group. There is the whole gendered thing. In the Guard you are constantly training, but in the other services I suppose some of this decreases once you get thru basic. But there is still the uniforms and all and different services. The other thing I don't know is what your status is if you get discharged. Some gays are still fighting dishonorable discharge status. Because trans is considered a condition of some kind, not sure that applies??


--Jay

Well, the legal team that was helping me said that the AFI that was helping me stay is the same one for mental disorder. I mean, a LOT of servicemen/women do go to mental health which is military provided, and they're staying in. I think if its "untreatable" then they're concerned.
I have no idea about this stuff, I just try to be honest and work like everyone else. ;_;