Transgender in the military: A Pentagon in transition weighs its policy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transgender-in-the-military-a-pentagon-in-transition-weighs-its-policy/2015/04/09/ee0ca39e-cf0d-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html

By Juliet Eilperin | April 9  

"Over the past decade, Sgt. Shane Ortega has served three combat tours: Two in Iraq, one in Afghanistan. Two as a Marine and one in the Army. Two as a woman and one as a man."

"Last summer, medical tests showed Ortega had elevated testosterone levels due to the hormones he was taking to support his transition to being a man. As a result, he was barred from flight duties. He still faces the risk of being separated from the Army, but the intervention of an outside legal advocacy group has held that off, at least temporarily. He remains a woman in the eyes of the military, a status with emotional and practical costs."

=============
I would like to share a story which appeared as the front page for Washington Post today (on the kindle app). I could not believe my eyes when I saw this, because it hits very close to home (literally).
So Sgt Shane Ortega has 'come out' at transgender FTM. This is especially exciting that he is a SGT with three combat tours, two served as a female. He is also a helicopter crew chief, which requires a lot of special training. So basically, SGT Ortega is a valuable asset to the military. This article brings up the issue of transgenders "relying" on hormone therapy, which isn't ideal in a combat/harsh environment, but Washington Post countered with mentioning how soldiers who require medication can manage during deployment, such as diabetics. Also the article made it pretty clear that the army is leaning in the direction of allowing trangenders to continue serving as their true gender identity, and the regulations could potentially change within a year's time.
Not to mention, this SGT is literally stationed in my neighborhood. I could walk to his office and say hi, I might have even already come in contact with him. Thanks SGT Ortega...army leads the way!

Edit and moved to meet forum policy on news posts.

That's awesome! And as usual with these stories, checking the comments sections on those sites is probably best avoided

Not always. I've shared my personal experiences on a couple articles that really applied to me. I got a lot of positive feedback. I got some negative, but I think exposure to put a visible face on us is helpful. Some of them had really never thought about it before. Others are genuinely  lost.

Quote from: TransSasha on April 10, 2015, 08:26:05 PM
That's awesome! And as usual with these stories, checking the comments sections on those sites is probably best avoided

Quote from: awilliams1701 on April 10, 2015, 11:12:50 PM
Not always. I've shared my personal experiences on a couple articles that really applied to me. I got a lot of positive feedback. I got some negative, but I think exposure to put a visible face on us is helpful. Some of them had really never thought about it before. Others are genuinely  lost.

very true. But its hard when sites like 9gag put up the youtube channel of people like that young trans girl that took her life recently, for the sole purpose for people to go and troll

Yes...the comment section can be pretty depressing. After reading literature on transgender and watching so many personal accounts on youtube, reading personal accounts online...and then reading the many uninformed, ignorant comments = anger. Why are people so bent on forcing their views on others? Especially, here is a person who has really served his country, and all people can focus on is how he has a vagina...but a man isn't less of a man because he does not have a penis.