The Fight for Trans Rights in the Military
Even after Don't Ask Don't Tell's repeal, gender identity remains unprotected for U.S. armed forces

By Molly Knefel
August 26, 2013 12:45 PM ET

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-fight-for-trans-rights-in-the-military-20130826

Chelsea Manning, the military whistleblower sentenced last week to 35 years in prison for leaking classified military documents to WikiLeaks, came out as transgender the day after sentencing, announcing that she is female and hopes to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. For many in the trans* community, Manning's announcement was not a revelation but a confirmation of her identity. Though Manning's story is an exceptional one, as a soldier and a prisoner she stands at the intersection of several discriminatory policies that affect thousands of trans* people throughout the United States. In a statement released on August 22nd, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argued that denying Manning access to hormone therapy – considered medically necessary care for the treatment of gender dysphoria – could be a violation of her Eighth Amendment rights protecting her from cruel and unusual punishment. As trans* identity remains unprotected in the military, however, thousands of trans* service members are, in fact, denied the right to seek medical care and live as their true selves.

"Trans* people are typically released from the military through medical discharge," says Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center. "That means the trans* service members who are serving are doing so quietly." A study recently conducted by the LGBTQ Policy Journal at Harvard's Kennedy School for Government found that 20 percent of the trans* people surveyed had served in the military – twice the rate of the rest of the population. The same study found that trans* service members were even more likely than their civilian counterparts to experience employment and housing discrimination and be denied medical treatment. While the successful repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) means sexual orientation is now protected, gender identity is not. And although gender dysphoria is considered a medical disqualification, discharges may be classified as "administrative," potentially limiting troops' future access to VA healthcare.

I hope I'm not out of line here, but I want to clear up an inaccuracy in the article. Unauthorized public release of classified information is not the same thing as whistleblowing. One is illegal, the other is protected.

Quote from: kabit on August 26, 2013, 09:21:32 PM
I hope I'm not out of line here, but I want to clear up an inaccuracy in the article. Unauthorized public release of classified information is not the same thing as whistleblowing. One is illegal, the other is protected.

Unless said classified documents contained information of illegal practices being committed.

Torture for example.

The information still needs to be released to an approved federal agency... the internet does not qualify.

And beyond going through the proper channels, being selective in what you release would also be appropriate as well.  There is no way she critically analyzed and considered the ramifications of every document she leaked, and she is incredibly lucky that she did not put a lot of her fellow service members in danger.

Her situation aside, I am very torn on the military issue.  On one hand, I am super bitter that I am getting discharged because I got diagnosed with GID.  I know I was good at my job and I said I wanted to wait a couple years before considering transitioning in order to finish my time.  The fact that they don't think I can continue to do a good job because of this offends me.  On the other hand, I know that repressing it for a couple years would go against the recommendations of any medical person educated on the subject and I do not think transitioning while active duty would be feasible.  I worked on a submarine, and while it is a separate debate, I do not think women should be on subs.  Not because they're not capable, but after experiencing the constraints of sub life, it would be a logistics nightmare.  Sub life aside, while I have not experienced HRT yet, I think it would be hard for starting HRT and maintaining physical readiness to coexist.  The smallest of medical issues can put someone on a med hold, so I don't see the drastic physical changes jiving with their standards.  However, it does seem like they're are getting ready to figure out how to better handle the issue, so I don't think it will be long before things are better.

Discriminating against transgender servicemembers, veterans, and those trans individuals who want to serve is wrong.  It's just straight-up wrong.

If the process of transition, or the lack of progress in transition, renders an individual incapable of serving, there can be discussions about what to do about that.  But a blanket ban is wrong.  The ban in place is based on a mix of bigotry and outdated ideas in psychology, and, since it's not based on law, the President ought to be eliminating it immediately.  I'm very fond of the President - the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell was enough to get my long-term loyalty, the Affordable Care Act has made my life better, and he's been wonderful on a lot of other issues - but that he hasn't acted on this is a black mark on his record.

I seriously doubt the Draft will ever be reinstated, the cost would be prohibitive.

While I was not happy I got drafted during the Vietnam war, I don't think the draft ever should have been stopped.  An all volunteer military is a nice idea, it really doesn't serve the nation.

The Manning case of leaking classified information shouldn't even have been brought up when concerning trans rights in the military. At least in my opinion "she" is not the spokesperson I want leading the right for us in the military. It puts a dark cloud over the whole thing and gives the people fighting against it more leverage.

I don't know...... This article confirms though that I just gotta wait till my term of service is over unless something changes to where the military will help me transition which I highly doubt will ever happen.

I wouldn't worry about the draft. We don't need much manpower/boots on the ground nowadays .due to having better computer tech as compared with Vietnam. Also, if we go into Syria, we'd likely have help from France and other nations.

So Jasriella you will think is is ok for the military to force a young person to first to military and then to de-transition? What are you really standing for? Pentagon? Neoconservatives?

Come on, young men are not dying in Boot Camp because of hazing.  Enough of the exaggerations.

I survived basic training in the Vietnam era and so did everyone else at our post.

Libertarian thank you. I wasn't implying anything towards the brewing conflict with Syria my post was directed to the OP.

And everyone survived boot camp when I went through infantry school and only one person didn't graduate on time and that was because of a broken ankle.

Please be careful where you take this thread, it is bordering on being closed.

I'm finding it really hypocritical now that I think of it. The military will treat depression, supply medication, and keep you in service. But if you're trans? A good soldier, like able, hard worker? Nope get out. Damn and I thought I had hope in my unit, might as well just play it safe like I said earlier and wait.

First, Syria will not lead the renewal of the draft.  Likely, air strikes will be the first step if they go that route.  Also,  it will have the backing of European nations if it comes to that.  Lastly, whether one wants a war or not, the fact is there are plenty of civilians dying in Syria at the moment.  It's complex and there really isn't a clear cut choice on what to do.  This isn't your average issue about the military being overzealous; although, I would agree that has been the case many times in the past.  I haven't made my decision on the matter as I am a pacifist at heart and think war sometimes only makes more problems, but I hate to see civilians getting killed by chemical warfare and no action being taking to prevent these atrocities.  Personally, I wish cowards like Putin, Ayatollah Khamenei and the entire politburo of the PRC would stand up and put some diplomatic pressure on Assad.  Koffi Annan's plan could have worked if they didn't help bolster the Syrian regimes position and make him adamant about rejecting negotiations.   Maybe then we wouldn't have this mess.

As for the topic of this thread, I don't get why the military won't allow soldiers to have necessary treatments.  I suppose they may worry about the effects of the drugs on physical performance or perhaps emotional changes.  I really don't know.  To be honest, I don't think they have a valid reason other traditionalism.

One thing I am curious about, why would someone who is trans and plans on transitioning enter the military at that time?  I understand there are some people who go into and find out in the midst of things they are trans.  But why would someone who plans on transitioning sign up for it if they know it will be a roadblock?  I don't mean that as an offensive question.  I'm actually curious to learn because I have met so many transgender service members since I have been on here and would like to learn about their experience. 

Quote from: learningtolive on August 29, 2013, 04:24:27 PM
One thing I am curious about, why would someone who is trans and plans on transitioning enter the military at that time?  I understand there are some people who go into and find out in the midst of things they are trans.  But why would someone who plans on transitioning sign up for it if they know it will be a roadblock?  I don't mean that as an offensive question.  I'm actually curious to learn because I have met so many transgender service members since I have been on here and would like to learn about their experience.

In my case it wasn't until very recently that I accepted it.  While it wasn't the main reason I enlisted, one of the biggest benefits I saw was it forcing the girliness out of me.  Obviously it didn't work.

It can also be the means to an end, to gather funds for trans care.

Quote from: learningtolive on August 29, 2013, 04:24:27 PM
As for the topic of this thread, I don't get why the military won't allow soldiers to have necessary treatments.  I suppose they may worry about the effects of the drugs on physical performance or perhaps emotional changes.  I really don't know.  To be honest, I don't think they have a valid reason other traditionalism.

I can somewhat understand why the military doesn't want to accept or keep trans people. If a person discovers that they're trans and are properly diagnosed while enlisted/commissioned, then the military would be obligated to pay for the transitioning process to correct the "medical deficiency." That's a lot of money that in their opinion they shouldn't have to spend, and I partly agree on that extent.....partly. On top of that, the said soldier would essentially be combat incapable throughout the duration of their transition. I do apologize if this seems harsh but I don't want someone on mixed hormones with me on patrol when ->-bleeped-<- hits the fan. I need to know exactly what my teammates are going to do and how we're going to react and the mixture of hormones from HRT makes that scenario unpredictable.

I can understand the military's reasons for not wanting to sanction treatments and procedures while in service, what I don't understand is why the military won't allow a person to be trans and simply do their job and service and have them wait till their contract is up if they're found out. I've been doing it for 4 years and have another 5 ahead of me and there hasn't been a single problem, but I guess I don't count. After all I knew full well that by enlisting into the U.S. Military that all I would be to the top brass was a number and warm body.

Quote from: learningtolive on August 29, 2013, 04:24:27 PM
One thing I am curious about, why would someone who is trans and plans on transitioning enter the military at that time?  I understand there are some people who go into and find out in the midst of things they are trans.  But why would someone who plans on transitioning sign up for it if they know it will be a roadblock?  I don't mean that as an offensive question.  I'm actually curious to learn because I have met so many transgender service members since I have been on here and would like to learn about their experience.

When I enlisted, I didn't know there was all this information, all this help freely offered, and most importantly I didn't know a guy could really become a girl in almost every physical aspect except for reproduction. I've had many many nights of crying myself to sleep thinking to myself how stupid could I be? I could in all honesty, if I knew then what I know now, very well be post op by now.

Nobody in their right mind "plans" on transitioning after they enlist in the service. Usually they're coaxed into it with enlistment bonuses and false promises. I knew what I wanted when I went to enlist and I settled for no less than just that, unfortunately I learned the hard way that after you finish boot camp you go wherever they want you to go regardless of what you enlisted for. I was going to be an infantryman and finished infantry school only to be told that I'm not going with my company to the unit I have 3 options, National Guard, Reserve, or get out, so I picked National Guard and became an Army Welder instead.

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