Transgender Indian naval officer fired for getting gender reassignment surgery

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/10/transgender-indian-naval-officer-fired-for-getting-gender-reassignment-surgery/

Pink News/By Josh Jackman    10/10/2017

I've been retired from the U.S. Navy for fifteen years. As a result I'm well acquainted with the often narrow minded culture of the modern military.  I cannot fathom the daunting challenges that transgendered military people currently encounter in their daily lives.  Even if we are allowed to serve openly you cannot legislate or order away ignorance and hate.  As someone who gladly served my nation for thirty years that fact saddens me deeply and makes me feel betrayed.

Melissa

I've been retired from the Army for 16 years.  Back in 1989 one of my  acquaintances was discharged for cross dressing after being caught by the MPs. 

I know that feeling of betrayal very well.  I try not to think about it too much though because when I do it starts to engender some really ugly emotions.


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Quote from: Deborah on November 10, 2017, 09:23:35 AM
I've been retired from the Army for 16 years.  Back in 1989 one of my  acquaintances was discharged for cross dressing after being caught by the MPs. 

I know that feeling of betrayal very well.  I try not to think about it too much though because when I do it starts to engender some really ugly emotions.


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I retired from the Navy in 2002 after 22 years of active duty. While I never knew anyone discharged for crossdressing or being transgender I knew many gays and lesbian Sailors and Marines that singled out and removed from the military as some sort of pariahs.  One of my best friends was a closeted gay man that superbly managed to hide his sexual preference during his 30 year Naval career.  As soon as he retired he immediately let his guard down and emerged from "the closet".  It saddens me that he and many others like him had to live in the shadows while they were serving their country. 

Today is Veteran's Day.  I would have loved to dress in my female Navy service dress blues and fall into ranks with my American Legion post and march in our city's Veterans Day parade.  I gave it some thought but I didn't want this to be about me. I didn't want a scene or a hassle to detract from the meaning of the day. Veterans Day is about the men and women past and present that have served our nation in the military. It's unfortunate that I couldn't have just fallen into ranks like any other military retiree and been accepted by my peers but that's just how it it is.