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News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on February 22, 2011, 02:52:59 PM

Title: The Transitive Property: An Argument Against ROTC’s Return, from an Actual Trans
Post by: Shana A on February 22, 2011, 02:52:59 PM
The Transitive Property: An Argument Against ROTC's Return, from an Actual Transgender Person's Perspective
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 | By Cristopher Bautista

http://www.stanforddaily.com/2011/02/22/the-transitive-property-an-argument-against-rotc%E2%80%99s-return-from-an-actual-transgender-person%E2%80%99s-perspective/ (http://www.stanforddaily.com/2011/02/22/the-transitive-property-an-argument-against-rotc%E2%80%99s-return-from-an-actual-transgender-person%E2%80%99s-perspective/)

So currently Stanford has been arguing about the return of ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps), the student branch of the U.S. military. ROTC was at Stanford until the 1970s, before it was removed from campus. The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which would allow gay and lesbian people to serve in the military, has revived the debate on ROTC. Many students argue that since the military doesn't discriminate against gay and lesbian people anymore, ROTC should come back. Also, both The Stanford Daily and The Stanford Review have printed opinion pieces on the ROTC's return. The Stanford Review's Jan. 31, 2011, editorial, "No Excuses Left for ROTC's Ban," stated that transgender people will benefit from the military's return to Stanford, because if we let more open-minded people in the military, eventually transgender people will be allowed to join.

It was while reading that editorial I realized that there was no transgender voice within this editorial, or within any of the opinion pieces presented in any Stanford publication so far. And if transgender issues are going to be at the center of an issue like the military, then some transgender person is going to have to get a word in — thus, this week's column.