Here we go again....keep on adding fuel to the fire....Its on CNn now
White House announces policy to ban most transgender persons from serving in military
cnn.com
By Sophie Tatum
Updated 9:40 PM ET, Fri March 23, 2018
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/23/politics/transgender-white-house/index.html
"(CNN)The White House on Friday announced a policy to ban most transgender persons from serving in the US military.
"Following a long review of a policy following a tweet by President Donald Trump last year, the White House said the policy will say 'transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria -- individuals who the policies state may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery -- are disqualified from military service except under certain limited circumstances.'"
* * *
When you elect this kind of guy, you get this kind of policy.
Sad.
Someone here will be by shortly to reassure us that Trump is the most pro-LGBT President ever.
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Served 22 years in Air Force. This is just sad. What's even worse is I have never been ashamed to be an American until Trump took office. My heart is breaking for our country everyday!
[emoji24]
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-orders-ban-transgender-troops-final-policy-rests/story?id=53963411
ABC News/
If there was ever anyone unfit to be president...
Well, the mid terms will be here soon. Hopefully there will be enough Democrats to rein him in.
Quote from: Deborah on March 23, 2018, 09:52:49 PM
Someone here will be by shortly to reassure us that Trump is the most pro-LGBT President ever.
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Well isn't he just as Nixon was not a crook. Glad I am Canadian
Quote from: natalie.ashlyne on March 23, 2018, 10:16:20 PM
Well isn't he just as Nixon was not a crook. Glad I am Canadian
Nixon has nothing on Trump, when it comes to being incompetent. Other than Watergate, he wasn't a bad president overall.
hhmmmm... I dunno, I know everybody is free to do whatever, but for me, it was a blessing to not have to serve in the army when my legal name change happened, I was so scared of being deployed, so when I was finally able to destroy my military ID card I felt so free... (I live in Mexico, here things are a little different than there in America).
He doesn't have any right to decide who wants to serve and who doesn't, I just wanted to tell my personal feelings about it.
This is really old news. Fact is that Trump's decision and mandate was overturned.
As far as Trump goes, I would always prefer to have information on an adversary's next move than have them sneak up and stab me in the back or worse.
Not old news. This is a new order issued today.
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And it will be shot down just like the old one.
When topics just end up bashing people, no matter who it is, then they are against the Terms of Service and end up being locked and removed.
So let us please comment on this topic and not bashing the politicians behind it. No matter the temptation.
Cindy
Posted these comments on the subject to Twitter...
I served, and many others have served while being #transgender going all the way back to the revolution war, not been any problems yet! This is #DontAskDontTell Redux and it is just as #unconstitutional. #TransBan
According to the DOD Health Agency, the military spent $41.6 million on Viagra, and $84.24 million total on erectile dysfunction drugs last year. Allowing #transgender people to serve would cost $2-$8 million if the government provided them with hormones and reassignment surgery
You know if @realDonaldTrump gave up 4 golf outings over the course of a year, it would more than pay the cost for providing full transition treatment for every #transgender soldier in the country for a year. #TransBan
Or he could forego his military parade and cover the costs for about 5 years.
It's all about keeping the evangelicals focused on their hatred for LGBT folks.
Got to distract them from his behavior.
Coincidence that Stormy Daniels on 60 Minutes Sunday?
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I think that the policy change could have been a lot worse to be honest. There are some things that Mr Mattis pointed which are true about military service. You don't do it because you expect something in return, you do it because you want to serve, and those who do SHOULD know that--inherintly, they become "government property." Now, I don't believe we are anyone's property, however, when you sign that contract you belong to the government regardless of you're personal feelings and needs. The military institution was designed to be a war machine, not a stop and let's fix everybodies problems shop.
I do understand the complexity of this issue, and I don't necessarily agree with this policy in it's entirety, but it also clearly states if you are trans, you may join but you won't receive treatment and must serve in your biological sex. So then we sacrifice our freedoms as a human to do a service for this country. For those who've served, all in different jobs and branches, you know that self sacrifice is the one constant in an ever-changing military institution.
The policy does offer continued care for trans people serving and doesn't abandon those who have been serving, it now just limits the options of those looking to join, more or less. GRS not being available, well honestly there have only been a handful of trans people who were approved prior to this policy. In my humble opinion, I believe this is something that should be done outside of military service, as it is both physically and emotionally demanding as well as time consuming when it comes to the recovery process. As I understand it, for mtf, top surgery is still an option for those who will be grandfathered.
Also, I have to ask, have there ever been any trans people who joined soley to attain gender care? I can understand wanting it so bad that some may do so, but what happens once your needs are taken care of and you realize you want nothing to do with the military anymore? A place that was not meant for a day of calling in sick, for someone to listen to your hurt feelings because you don't want to get up at 3am and work through the next day. Those are almost insignificant examples of what some people endure throughout their time in.
Again, I'm not for or against this policy change, but look at the facts. Keep in mind that the recommendations came from Jim Mattis, and that he's not just some whimsickle politician, he put his time in as well. Honestly, I'm glad they are AT LEAST going to continue supporting trans troops from a medical standpoint, and honor their service as they would any CIS person. It could've been much worse.
These are my thoughts unrelated to the Trump administration and more directly related to military service.
Hopefully, one day, there will be a point we're we've figured all of this out and everyone can coexist and work equally, unfortunately as far I can tell, and history is concerned, we weren't built this way. But as we know, there are many many issues with equality in this wolrd we live in, let alone the USA, plenty of which go unnoticed depending on where, and who you are.
There are over 100,000 transgender veterans alive right now, who did not expect to receive transition care, who served well and honorably.
I served honorably. Chief Kristin Beck served honorably. None of us needed regulations to keep us in our place, to make us second class citizens, or to declare us unfit or less than human.
None of these restrictive policies are necessary. None of them improve military readiness.
Transgender people have served with honor, for decades. We proudly and patriotically volunteered to serve in our nations armed forces, and we feel this assault doubly on our identity, on who we are. Our brothers, our sisters, our family and allies have been targeted. We know the price of freedom, and this test of our freedom and resolve cannot be allowed to pass.
I was a transgender person in the US Navy, not out, but a dedicated and patriotic person there to serve my country and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign AND domestic.
Being transgender but not out made life considerably harder.
Sharon Brown, a Navy veteran now working as director of human resources at the Los Angeles LGBT Center described this. "You're less productive, you're always on guard," she explained. "It takes a lot of energy to hide who you are when that energy could be used for other things. When you can be open, you're much happier, you're much more engaged. The sun truly comes up when you're allowed to be who you are and it's shining all day long because you can actually serve as your authentic self and be proud of who you are."
I worked very hard, as many trans military members do, and like many other trans folks, was an overachiever. I was in the Navy Nuclear Power Program, and I impressed the staff sufficiently that I was asked to stay on for two years as an instructor after I completed the Nuclear Power Schools. Following that tour, I was assigned to a submarine, one of the most decorated boats in the fleet, and crewed by more overachievers. And yes, as I found out years later, that included several other trans folks. I racked up more awards.
I received the Navy Achievement Medal, several presidential citations and command citations. I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. My crew was awarded the Nave Expeditionary Medal for our mission performance, along with the Battle 'E' and Engineering 'E. Besides my primary Engineering duties, I took on duties in the fire control racking party, damage control party, and was assistant ship's photographer, recording mission data and assembling media for reports to COMSUBPAC. I was the Engineering Dept 3M Coordinator, overseeing all maintenance and care for the nuclear power plant, engines and support systems.
Trans folks tend to be driven overachievers. (Just ask anyone who knows me...) We work hard to try and be accepted, far harder than those born with their assigned sex and gender identity in line, because we really do have something we need to prove.
We trans folks are among the best and brightest in the service. And yet, our president thinks that discarding us is just fine, because we don't meet some ideological purity test. He thinks that discarding us is doing the military a favor!
We are people like Kristin Beck, the first former Navy SEAL to come out as transgender.
We are people like Carla Lewis, brilliant, yet when it was discovered that she had sought help with gender identity issues, was cast out of the Air Force.
We are people like Emma Shin, who served from 1994 to 2014 in six deployments in the Marine Corps, including a combat posting in Fallujah, Iraq as an infantry platoon captain.
We are people like Paula Neira, a nurse and an attorney, who served for 10 years in the US Navy, and more recently was chosen as one of the experts to be consulted by the military as part of the 2016 decision to allow open service for transgender Americans.
We need these thousands of our best and brightest. We need their skills, determination, and tenacity.
Oh, the expense!
A report by the Rand Corporation, which was commissioned by the Pentagon, states that having transgender members of the armed forces would not compromise military readiness, ability to deploy or require a significant increase in health care costs. According to the report, there are approximately 1,320 to 6,600 active transgender service members. Of those, only a fraction — between 29 and 129 — would be expected to seek transition-specific medical care annually. This would cost an estimated $2.4 million to $8.4 million a year, an amount that will have "little impact" on overall military health expenditures, according to the report.
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1500/RR1530/RAND_RR1530.pdf
The report is quite detailed, at 112 pages, and is worth a read if you happen to be a policy wonk.
There are probably around 15,000 transgender service members if we include active reserves, and around 150,000 transgender people if we include veterans. That's a lot of people to tick off. That's a lot of dedicated folks to replace and train.
When these service personnel are honorably discharged the expense does not disappear, but simply shift to the Veterans Administration. There is no real savings. Note that trying to make being out as a transgender person an event worthy of a dishonorable discharge with a presidential memorandum would be an unconstitutional breach of Article 1 Section 18 of the US Constitution, as all judicial changes for the military are powers assigned to Congress by the constitution.
The expense really is pretty small. The budget for Viagra tablets is several times the expected cost of gender confirmation surgeries. Very few persons will receive this surgery in any given year. Most transgender people never seek out gender confirmation surgery, but find other medical treatments such as hormone replacement therapy to be sufficient.
The impact on readiness argument is similarly foolish. Very few persons will receive this surgery in any given year. The Rand study estimated the possibility of 30 to 140 new hormone treatments a year in the military, with 25 to 130 gender transition-related surgeries among active service members annually. Following gender confirmation surgery the military member is ready for light duty in about 2 months, and deployable after 6 to 8 months. Compare this with a torn and surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, a common knee injury which would have a three month recovery time and include physical therapy before the soldier could be deployed.
The expense to recruit a replacement for the discharged service member is about $75,000. The training cost may be an additional $100,000 to $1,000,000. Think about it. Building and operating a nuclear power plant for the purpose of training 200 people a year is not cheap, but there is no way to gain that experience with classroom work and simulations.
A new report from Palm Center, the public policy planning group, states that the cost of replacing troops is about one hundred times the cost of providing their medical care.
http://www.palmcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cost-of-firing-trans-troops-3.pdf
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Trump's ban was one of the reasons I started the draft thread. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If trans have to register for the draft with failing to do so resulting in a possible $250,000, what sense does it make to ban transgender people.
Eventually, the emotional or bias will disappear and common sense should prevail and this is directed at Trump and folks with the same mindset.
Quote from: Cassi on March 24, 2018, 03:08:27 PM
Trump's ban was one of the reasons I started the draft thread. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If trans have to register for the draft with failing to do so resulting in a possible $250,000, what sense does it make to ban transgender people.
Eventually, the emotional or bias will disappear and common sense should prevail and this is directed at Trump and folks with the same mindset.
Then per the policy, they would be registered but automatically disqualified as well.
Quote from: Michelle_P on March 24, 2018, 03:03:15 PM
There are over 100,000 transgender veterans alive right now, who did not expect to receive transition care, who served well and honorably.
I served honorably. Chief Kristin Beck served honorably. None of us needed regulations to keep us in our place, to make us second class citizens, or to declare us unfit or less than human.
None of these restrictive policies are necessary. None of them improve military readiness.
Transgender people have served with honor, for decades. We proudly and patriotically volunteered to serve in our nations armed forces, and we feel this assault doubly on our identity, on who we are. Our brothers, our sisters, our family and allies have been targeted. We know the price of freedom, and this test of our freedom and resolve cannot be allowed to pass.
Yes, this is true. Many trans service members do/did great things, many also accepted the responsibilities of their position, job, rank and concerned themselves with responsibilities to duty without concern for transition. Some don't even realize they're trans until after they've been in for quite some time. Some just "deal with it." I'm sure when you served the option to receive transition care wasn't even a fart in the wind, and for most, it wasn't until very recently. So people served because they wanted to, or for whatever personal aspirations they had--perhaps even a distraction from who they were (Sona Avedian).
Also, there is a difference between someone tearing their ACL in training or combat and having to recover, and someone who is choosing to undergo a life changing procedure.
The military is built on discipline, instant obedience to orders, and being masterful at everything that one does. It is built on one troops ability to fight, protect, train and mentor the troops to their left and right; and in-turn for those on the left and right to be capable of the same. So ideally, those joining need to be stable in who they are and understand what they are getting into, which we could argue--who really does until they are in the face of "it."
The statistical research and financial data provided is just a blanket that people need for justification. Anyone who has served would know that the military is ALWAYS over spending, or "struggling" to get what they need because of budget problems.
I still believe there are quite a few variables which haven't been accounted for on either end of this argument. Lets shift to woman in the infantry, entirely different set of circumstances, but arguably as complex and infuriating for some. I don't think anyone will ever be fully satisfied with the decisions being made, and we can only hope to offer influence in places that will help improve these circumstances.
The concern is human rights, and that all are equal, yet all do not serve or live in an equal capacity. If we are all equal then why should we kill or condemn someone for murdering another person if that's who they are? Yes, this is an extreme end of the argument, but my point is that, from a military standpoint its an start and end date of service, and your life priorities quickly lose importance in the eyes of the military/country. Those who've been there can attest to this, that they've experienced or seen family emergencies (to say the least) which troops couldn't tend to due to training, or deployment. I'm not saying its right, I'm saying that a lot of people get shafted during their time in because the military doesnt care about your personal problems, they just want you to do your job.
This, in my opinion, is more of a band-ade to a longterm issue which still hasnt been properly addressed or intergrated into the government system. Acceptance is a global issue, as is ignorance.
And lets not forget, we trans people can barely gain a foothold of normalcy in our everyday American/global society. There's so many issues to tackle, and I don't have the answers, but perhaps at times we should focus in one problem area and refine it before officially moving onto another. To live a "free" life outside of the military without discrimination, that would be a great victory.
For those who haven't read the policy.
Military-Service-By-Transgender-Individuals-Interim-Guidance.pdf on defense.gov
Note: It doesn't say you can't serve openly.
EDIT: Have to add-in it also doesn't show the complete policy letter, couldn't find that link, saved the PDF on my phone though.
Frankly, I'm beginning to think of my years of service to the USA as a monumental waste of a life.
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Quote from: Deborah on March 24, 2018, 04:31:09 PM
Frankly, I'm beginning to think of my years of service to the USA as a monumental waste of a life.
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I can see why you may feel that way Deborah, and I might agree on the behalf of political agenda--but then I think about how I worked with some fantastic people, I became a better person, more assertive, educated, accepting, and eventually realized who I really was, and was able to start being that person.
I'm sure you've had a tremendous and positive impact on people during your time in service, many you probably won't even know about.
Quote from: AutumnGurl81 on March 24, 2018, 04:51:05 PM
I can see why you may feel that way Deborah, and I might agree on the behalf of political agenda--but then I think about how I worked with some fantastic people, I became a better person, more assertive, educated, accepting, and eventually realized who I really was, and was able to start being that person.
I'm sure you've had a tremendous and positive impact on people during your time in service, many you probably won't even know about.
The thing is that despite whatever positive contributions I and many other trans people have made over the years we are still called out as pariahs. So, what was the point? Donald Trump or Mike Pence could have done my job if I hadn't been filling it first. After all, they are great patriots, they tell us so nearly every day!
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Quote from: Deborah on March 23, 2018, 09:52:49 PM
Someone here will be by shortly to reassure us that Trump is the most pro-LGBT President ever.
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I consider people like that to be self loathing (in general ). As a black trans woman if I heard of a fellow black person getting behind say a David Duke I would consider them self loathing .
Quote from: Seattlite on March 25, 2018, 11:01:47 AM
I consider people like that to be self loathing (in general ). As a black trans woman if I heard of a fellow black person getting behind say a David Duke I would consider them self loathing .
The only reason I would get behind David Duke or any of them would be to kick them in the butt.
Please don't take this the wrong way but when I see these type people and they open their mouths I feel sad that birth control wasn't used earlier. Igorance can be cured by education, stupidity only God knows.
It turns out that this order wasn't issued to placate Evangelicals. It was written by Evangelicals and was substituted for the Pentagon's actual recommendations. This isn't a case of people not understanding what trans is. It is a case of people who are on a mission from God.
——————————————————————
Pence secretly drafted Trump's latest transgender military ban
By Zack Ford
https://thinkprogress.org/pence-responsible-for-trump-transgender-military-ban-f4d3b67bde47/
When President Trump announced a new ban on transgender people serving in the military late Friday, it was somewhat of a surprise — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had reportedly recommended in February that Trump allow transgender people to serve. It turns out that Vice President Pence and some of the country's most prominent anti-LGBTQ activists had a role in reversing the outcome, which explains why the report explaining the decision is rife with anti-trans junk science.
Slate's Mark Joseph Stern reported Friday night that, according to multiple sources, Pence played "a leading role" in creating the report, along with Ryan T. Anderson of the Heritage Foundation, which has been dubbed "Trump's favorite think tank," and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council (FRC), an anti-LGBTQ hate group. Both Heritage and FRC praised the report Friday. According to Stern's reporting, it was true that Mattis favored allowing transgender military service, but Pence "effectively overruled" him.
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I know I may get heat for this but there are some things I can find myself to agree with with the transgender ban with the military. I look at it from a logistics point and mental health point.
When joining you go threw a long process of physical exams to find medical conditions that may disqualify you. When joining with some of my best friends in high school, one was eliminated due to them finding a disease that he never new about. He was glad they found it but it ruined him for a while. All he did was train for the marines. I also had a set back by getting injured from sports that took an extra year. They don't do because they don't think you would be good mental if given the chance but it puts you at more risk. As well as making it one more thing they need to worry about if deployed.
If you require hormones at a regular time and are deployed to the hills of A-stan, they need to fund a way to get them to you. Maybe even putting risk on others for the supply runs. Getting food, water, and ammo is already hard enough in some areas. And you put that for anyone with illnesses deployed it makes it a logistical nightmare in war.
Also on the mental health point. Many people with gender dysforia may also suffer from depression. Depression is a hell of a hard thing to fight and put that with weapons and the stress/hell of war. It makes it not the best situation. We already have to many people ending their lives already. I was medical discharges a year before my end as I was dealing with depression. They gave me the choose of taking a year off from drill then finishing my last year or just take the medical discharge. I chose the later as I didn't think I could fix it in a year and was ready to move on in my life. And with recent changes they are try to lessen the number of Non-Deployables in the military. Right now only 25% of our Army units are able to deployed if needed. So over 75% of our military is not equipped or not enough people. There is a very large amount of people who can't be deployed for any number of reasons, and it does hurt our readiness.
With that said I do believe that if you are serving and your dystopia is to strong it would be a full medical discharge, similar to a discharge for depression. Also HRT and SRS if wanted should be covered by benefits fully. Of course there are exceptions to who should and shouldn't serve but that's just how I feel on some things.
QuoteI know I may get heat for this but there are some things I can find myself to agree with with the transgender ban with the military. I look at it from a logistics point and mental health point.
While some may be disqualified for specific reasons, just like CIS, this is a blanket ban. And one that's not born out by fact, only bigotry.
Since the USA is now in a state of unending war, the Military is designed so only a third are deployed at any given time. Another third are preparing to deploy and the rest are recovering from the last deployment. So the 25% figure, even if correct, gives a wildly inflated impression of unpreparedness.
While it might seem like a brilliant idea to deploy everyone to fight, that is not sustainable either logistically or mental health wise for wars that never end. When we have done that before, the last time was WWII, the war only lasted four years and then everyone came home.
It is also hardly a burden to provide a Soldier with a prescription. The Military does have a very good organic healthcare system that is embedded at every level of the force.
For those of us who did serve honorably all of these arguments about mental instability and unfitness are a tremendous insult, especially when coming from chickenhawks but no less when coming from those whom we served alongside.
QuoteChickenhawk (chicken hawk or chicken-hawk) is a political term used in the United States to describe a person who strongly supports war or other military action (i.e., a war hawk), yet who actively avoids or avoided military service when of age.
The term indicates that the person in question is hypocritical for personally dodging a draft or otherwise shirking their duty to their country during a time of armed conflict while advocating that others do so. Generally, the implication is that chickenhawks lack the moral character to participate in war themselves, preferring to ask others to support, fight and perhaps die in an armed conflict. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenhawk_%28politics%29
I think it's wrong but I do believe it is the president's choice to make, whether you like it or not.
Quote from: Zumbagirl on March 28, 2018, 06:37:26 AM
I think it's wrong but I do believe it is the president's choice to make, whether you like it or not.
He seems to like ruling by decree. That means he's ignoring the will of the representatives and people. Is it also his choice if he decides to ban blacks or Puerto Ricans? Bigotry is bigotry and so it's not his right, as it violates the constitution.
His is the most incompetent and corrupt administration in U.S. history. He should never have been made president.
Quote from: AnneK on March 28, 2018, 07:42:36 AM
He seems to like ruling by decree. That means he's ignoring the will of the representatives and people. Is it also his choice if he decides to ban blacks or Puerto Ricans? Bigotry is bigotry and so it's not his right, as it violates the constitution.
His is the most incompetent and corrupt administration in U.S. history. He should never have been made president.
Incompetent? Well, there was this peanut farmer from Georgia I think....
Corrupt, not the most corrupt - sadly power breeds.................................
Quote from: AnneK on March 28, 2018, 07:42:36 AM
He seems to like ruling by decree. That means he's ignoring the will of the representatives and people. Is it also his choice if he decides to ban blacks or Puerto Ricans? Bigotry is bigotry and so it's not his right, as it violates the constitution.
His is the most incompetent and corrupt administration in U.S. history. He should never have been made president.
Decree? It's an executive order, a legal power delegated to the president. Like I said I don't agree with it but at the end of the day the presidents use of his authority will be valid just like Obama's was. His use of an executive order regarding whether or not trans people serve in the military is about burning issue number 1,456,722. It's not really important compared to other things.
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I am aware of executive orders. However, I used decree, as he seems to consider himself King Trump, where he rules without passing laws through congress. I don't recall any president using executive orders as much as Trump and, quite frankly, his orders seem to reflect bigotry.
https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/03/27/25962519/trump-admin-tries-to-justify-trans-military-ban-seattle-court-not-having-it
SLOG/by Sydney Brownstone 03/27/2018
I was going to say something but I'll just watch.
Quote from: Zumbagirl on March 28, 2018, 06:37:26 AM
I think it's wrong but I do believe it is the president's choice to make, whether you like it or not.
The president isn't a dictator, he can try as he might to make a decision, but as long as people fight that decision he's going to have a hard time.
Regarding the use of executive orders and military regulation:
Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution states that Congress shall have the power
Quote
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
Quote from: Michelle_P on April 11, 2018, 07:20:36 PM
Regarding the use of executive orders and military regulation:
Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution states that Congress shall have the power
Congress abrogates their responsibility all the time. I could make the very same argument regarding Obama's executive order that allowed trans people to serve. Congress didn't change the law, Obama's EO did. Trump used the same authority to undo it. Nothing new.
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Quote from: TWfromMN on March 28, 2018, 03:54:56 AM
I know I may get heat for this but there are some things I can find myself to agree with with the transgender ban with the military. I look at it from a logistics point and mental health point.
When joining you go threw a long process of physical exams to find medical conditions that may disqualify you. When joining with some of my best friends in high school, one was eliminated due to them finding a disease that he never new about. He was glad they found it but it ruined him for a while. All he did was train for the marines. I also had a set back by getting injured from sports that took an extra year. They don't do because they don't think you would be good mental if given the chance but it puts you at more risk. As well as making it one more thing they need to worry about if deployed.
If you require hormones at a regular time and are deployed to the hills of A-stan, they need to fund a way to get them to you. Maybe even putting risk on others for the supply runs. Getting food, water, and ammo is already hard enough in some areas. And you put that for anyone with illnesses deployed it makes it a logistical nightmare in war.
Also on the mental health point. Many people with gender dysforia may also suffer from depression. Depression is a hell of a hard thing to fight and put that with weapons and the stress/hell of war. It makes it not the best situation. We already have to many people ending their lives already. I was medical discharges a year before my end as I was dealing with depression. They gave me the choose of taking a year off from drill then finishing my last year or just take the medical discharge. I chose the later as I didn't think I could fix it in a year and was ready to move on in my life. And with recent changes they are try to lessen the number of Non-Deployables in the military. Right now only 25% of our Army units are able to deployed if needed. So over 75% of our military is not equipped or not enough people. There is a very large amount of people who can't be deployed for any number of reasons, and it does hurt our readiness.
With that said I do believe that if you are serving and your dystopia is to strong it would be a full medical discharge, similar to a discharge for depression. Also HRT and SRS if wanted should be covered by benefits fully. Of course there are exceptions to who should and shouldn't serve but that's just how I feel on some things.
A supply of medications are issued to the soldiers as a part of their deployment process. The refills are ordered online and are added to the regular supply run with the rest of the mail. So no one is put in any additional danger. The military has no problems supplying other soldiers with anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications during their combat tours. So we have eliminated all those arguments.
QuoteIn deploying an all-volunteer army to fight two ongoing wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon has increasingly relied on prescription drugs to keep its warriors on the front lines. In recent years, the number of military prescriptions for antidepressants, sleeping pills, and painkillers has risen as soldiers come home with battered bodies and troubled minds. And many of those service members are then sent back to war theaters in distant lands with bottles of medication to fortify them.
Trans soldiers have been serving this country since the revolution and there hasn't been any negative repercussions yet. That one is done too.
QuoteDiscrimination against #transgender people clearly is unrelated to their ability to perform and contribute to society. Indeed, the Individual Plaintiffs in this case contribute not only to society as a whole, but to the military specifically. for years, they have risked their lives serving in combat and non-combat roles, fighting terrorism around the world, and working to secure the safety and security of our forces overseas. Their exemplary service has been recognized by the military itself, with many having received awards and distinctions.
There is nothing stopping transgender people from deploying with their units. Any medical treatment that requires surgery can be scheduled during the down time after they return from a combat zone.
This policy was based on rightwing anti-trans groups in a conspiracy with the vice president and had nothing to do with the needs of the military.
The last question for you is are you even transgender?
I don't understand why he is doing that, ANYONE that is in sound mind and capable of doing the job no matter what sex gender race religion sexual orientation that is willing to put there life on the line to defend there country should be aloud every one is equal. If you can do the job than why can you know have the job. Makes no sense to me
Does not look like the crazy ban will go much further:
https://www.susans.org/2018/04/14/court-confirms-blocking-of-ban-on-trans-troops/
and
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transgender-ban-trump-military_us_5ad1572ee4b0edca2cb9eea1
Quote"is led to conclude that the Ban was devised by the President, and the President alone."
I don't know how accurate that is, considering he's got Jeff Sessions and Mike Pence in his administration.
Quote from: sarah1972 on April 14, 2018, 01:07:07 AM
Does not look like the crazy ban will go much further:
I dunno, my fear is that this will go the way of the Muslim travel ban. One of my cis friends was so excited for me, but the Trump I know doesn't quit once he's set his mind to something.
Quote from: AnneK on April 14, 2018, 06:07:49 AM
I don't know how accurate that is, considering he's got Jeff Sessions and Mike Pence in his administration.
You assume he will remain in office and that his party will retain control of Congress this fall. Both assumptions appear to be very weak right now.[emoji3]
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Quote from: Deborah on April 16, 2018, 10:43:45 AM
You assume he will remain in office and that his party will retain control of Congress this fall. Both assumptions appear to be very weak right now.[emoji3]
That's my hope too.
Quote from: Deborah on April 16, 2018, 10:43:45 AM
You assume he will remain in office and that his party will retain control of Congress this fall. Both assumptions appear to be very weak right now.[emoji3]
That's something to look forward to. However, if Trump quits or is removed, then there is the reality of a President Pence.
My impression is that Trump is personally indifferent to LGBT people. He has no fixed principles politically or morally. When he strikes out against us, it is because of a political calculation he makes in the moment, searching for an issue to cultivate and gratify the prejudices of his most fervent followers. Trump's rise to power has been achieved by mobilizing the fears, anger, and resentment of his followers and focusing them against "marginal" groups. (Muslims, LGBT, immigrants, non-Christians, non-whites, etc.) Oddly, Trump bears us no personal ill will - he's simply an unprincipled opportunist. But that makes him readily willing to throw us under the bus whenever he perceives any advantage to doing so.
Mike Pence is fundamentally different. He's a true believer, opposed to LGBT people and LGBT rights as a matter of religious and political principle. President Pence's executive actions and judicial appointments will be at least as toxic as those of President Trump, and very likely even more toxic. So the danger to us as a community doesn't end even if Trump falls.
It's a tall order, but the BEST thing we could do in November would be to change the balance in the Senate. The Senate approves and confirms appointees to the federal judiciary, which are LIFETIME appointments. Trump and Pence may soon be gone. But Trump/Pence-appointed federal judges are likely to be a problem to us as individuals and as a community for decades into the future.