Transgender Troops In Other Nations Are Proof That Inclusive Militaries Work

[Xenguy]

Transgender Troops In Other Nations Are Proof That Inclusive Militaries Work
Jennifer Bendery- 10/21/2014

"WASHINGTON -- Cpl. Natalie Murray has been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for 27 years. She is a radar technician, and she has been deployed as far away as Bosnia to put her specialized training to use. That was in 2002.

About a year later, she transitioned from publicly identifying as a man to identifying as a woman. It didn't take long for word to spread in the military.

"I've arrived at a unit, and they're expecting a drag queen," said Murray. "A lot has to do with how media portrays us, or at LGBT events, when trans issues are being addressed, that's exactly who they bring out. A drag queen. ... Part of why I stand up and be who I am is to address that.""

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/21/transgender-military-ban_n_6017564.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=GayVoices

[suzifrommd]

From the article:

Defense Department instruction 6130.03 bars people with "psychosexual conditions ... including but not limited to transsexualism, exhibitionism, transvestism, voyeurism, and other paraphilias" from serving in the military.

I'm embarrassed for my country.

[Mark3]

From the article:

I'm embarrassed for my country.

The USA is the most restrictive gender divided country on earth.. 

[suzifrommd]

The USA is the most restrictive gender divided country on earth.. 

Now I wouldn't go that far. The women in Saudi Arabia who are not allowed to drive solely because of their gender would probably disagree.

But in the "land of the free and the home of the brave", one wouldn't expect that the military would be so chicken of us that they're afraid to give us the freedom to serve.

[Asche]

... one wouldn't expect that the military would be so chicken of us that they're afraid to give us the freedom to serve.

But, but, but: GIRL-COOTIES!!!!  Greatest threat to manly-men ever found!!!

\end{snark}

[LordKAT]

But, but, but: GIRL-COOTIES!!!!  Greatest threat to manly-men ever found!!!

\end{snark}

Considering it isn't male only, that comment doesn't fit.

[Xenguy]

From the article:

I'm embarrassed for my country.

Completely missed this, but the fact that they compare transsexualism to paraphilias shows an attitude towards gender identity from the era before sliced bread.

Also, the fact that the military even cares about about whether or not people have fetishes is appalling. A lot of people have paraphilias, whether they're open about it or not, and even then..... SINCE WHEN IS IT ANYONE'S BUSINESS WHAT ANOTHER PERSON GETS OFF TO?

[Vale]

Completely missed this, but the fact that they compare transsexualism to paraphilias shows an attitude towards gender identity from the era before sliced bread.
Also, the fact that the military even cares about about whether or not people have fetishes is appalling. A lot of people have paraphilias, whether they're open about it or not, and even then..... SINCE WHEN IS IT ANYONE'S BUSINESS WHAT ANOTHER PERSON GETS OFF TO?

I'd never thought about this in that way before. To me, it seems like a lot of the Uniformed Code wants to push their own moral values on the people it applies for reasons of discipline. It seems to really just end up taking away personal liberties from our service members for no good reason.
I do have hope that'll change in the future, although it'll take some time as the government and the military are pretty well known for working slowly. My hope is that it's not a rushed choice and they make the necessary changes in the entire military structure for transgendered service members.