News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on December 26, 2010, 11:58:20 AM Return to Full Version
Title: On Transgender Servicemembers And DADT; On Community Activism Ahead
Post by: Shana A on December 26, 2010, 11:58:20 AM
Post by: Shana A on December 26, 2010, 11:58:20 AM
On Transgender Servicemembers And DADT; On Community Activism Ahead
by: Autumn Sandeen
Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 12:30:00 PM EST
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18310/on-transgender-servicemembers-and-dadt-on-activism-ahead (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18310/on-transgender-servicemembers-and-dadt-on-activism-ahead)
The DADT policy that was in effect from 1993 to (hopefully) sometime in very early 2011 only addressed the military service of lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers. Transgender people's service in the military wasn't addressed in this DADT repeal legislation -- and my take on the DADT repeal legislation is that transgender people's service shouldn't have been addressed in it.
And why would that be? Well, the reason is that there is no federal law on the books that bars transgender people from serving in the military.
Transgender servicemembers are in the same place that lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers were in 1992 (before DADT became law) -- transgender people are now only barred from military service by regulation, and not barred by federal law. President Obama could sign a memorandum tomorrow that would allow transgender people to serve openly.
by: Autumn Sandeen
Sun Dec 26, 2010 at 12:30:00 PM EST
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18310/on-transgender-servicemembers-and-dadt-on-activism-ahead (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18310/on-transgender-servicemembers-and-dadt-on-activism-ahead)
The DADT policy that was in effect from 1993 to (hopefully) sometime in very early 2011 only addressed the military service of lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers. Transgender people's service in the military wasn't addressed in this DADT repeal legislation -- and my take on the DADT repeal legislation is that transgender people's service shouldn't have been addressed in it.
And why would that be? Well, the reason is that there is no federal law on the books that bars transgender people from serving in the military.
Transgender servicemembers are in the same place that lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers were in 1992 (before DADT became law) -- transgender people are now only barred from military service by regulation, and not barred by federal law. President Obama could sign a memorandum tomorrow that would allow transgender people to serve openly.