Ladies and Gentlemen,
   
        Don't ask don't tell is being removed from the United States Military (although I expect it will be months before I receive a policy letter making real change)!  Some of you know me as a service member here who is trying to get though her last deployment so that she can start her transition.  As such, I am curious what is this communities thought(s) on the policy and on TG individuals in the armed forces? 
     
        For you who may not know, don't ask don't tell (DADT) is the policy were homosexual persons are allowed to serve in the United States Military, however they must hide their orientation.
   
         -Violet

I seem to remember seeing a newspaper article about a gay member of Britain's Royal Marines having a Service wedding complete with the traditional sword arch.  I don't think anyone in the US military would say that the Royal Marines lack fighting ability because of it.

DADT and it repeal applies specifically and exclusively to gay and lesbian members of the armed forces.  Trans service members were, and are, excluded from any such protections.  This is one of the bogeymen that the anti-gay lobby as used as a reason to leave DADT in place, the specter of a MTF in transition in the barracks.

In one respect, it is a great advance for LGB civil rights.  Possibly a lynch pin for future civil rights changes for our community, certainly one of the most important.  And I applaud it.

But, number one, the policy is still in place, and two, even after repeal, you are still at risk for discharge should your transition become known.  So for goodness sake, you must remain closeted until you complete your deployment.

I don't know of any armed forces that allow any sort of cross gender expression or transition.  It may ever be so.

I admit that transition while on duty would present some very difficult problems for active duty personnel.  And, as we have seen, logical arguments would not be a factor in dealing with these issues.

From me, thank you for your service, and I am sorry that you must keep yourself so deeply hidden, yet still stand up and risk all for us.  It is heartbreaking.

-Sandy

Quote from: Sandy on December 24, 2010, 06:56:40 AM
I don't know of any armed forces that allow any sort of cross gender expression or transition.  It may ever be so.

Hmm off the top of my head I can think of Canada and Holland as militaries that do... sure there must be more.

Just an interesting little tidbit about DADT... of the 28 NATO countries, the US (up till the repeal) Bulgaria and Turkey are the only three that didn't allow openly gay servicepeople, and the only permanent UN security council member not to. A lot of militaries are long past where the US is in dealing with that and in some cases on to sorting Trans issues.

Of course the huge (well, at least not minor) is that in those other armies they are not going to send you into combat.  Killing people is what our army does - shock and awe baby! - the army of the Netherlands is guarding dikes.  The United States Army has killed more people so far in this century than any other army, and that figures highly into who they want.  And "gender expression"?  Really?  I don't think the Army likes any form of self-expression.  You want to 'express' yourself, find an art school.

Tekla I would beg to differ on the effectiveness of other countries armed forces. 

The only thing that makes the US Army, Navy and Air Force effective is sheer bloody size.

I come from an Army family and I can tell you that the average  Aussie  (and I have to admit Kiwi)digger operates at the level of the US Army's special forces, and the SAS (and the Brit's SAS and SBS) at higher level again. The RAN's conventional submarines have a nasty habit of successfully penetrating the USN's fleets on exercises too. (theoretically impossible they claim).
 
The argument here was whether the Army's bean counters  had to chip in for a share of an officer's SRS, and the  courts decided they have to.  As far as the personnel are concerned, the consensus seems to be whether they will be a good soldier is all that matters.


Merry Christmas to all too. Sandra.

And Australia was one I knew about too, forgot it though...

Strange, I can't seem to find anything on google saying specifically if transgender is included or not. I first heard about it from my father and sister, and according to them it is a across-the-board thing. I remain cautiously optimistic as that may mean I can reenter the service in the next year or so. But even if, and I stress the if, that does occur I suspect it will be done is some sort of phases.

Honestly where do you stick a trans person, especially if they are mid transition, for training? Or barracks, deployment, combat, ect? I suspect first it will be the GBL for at least a year before the T is, if ever, included. Hope i'm wrong though, in a good way of course.

Terra... you won't, because transsexuality was never covered by DADT in the first place... they just won't enlist you if they know you're trans, and discharge you if they find out after you're in. At least thats what I've gathered off a lot of posts and blog entries over this.

Actually I was discharged for being gay. They just phrased it as an administrative for medical reasons. Far as i understood it trans and gay are more or less synonymous in the US military. Or at least they were. Heck most laymen do consider it the same. If this means trans will be covered or not remains to be seen. For once ignorance may just work in our favor.

Initially they may try to exclude trans, for whatever reason, just to see response. Remember the government has been under increasing pressure, from a variety of sources, to get rid of DADT for some time. A public outcry may get trans added if it isn't to the current act. *shrugs* Or not. As they say, its all politics. I still stand by the phased in scenario, for two months is the limit to the time they have to start accepting members of the LGBT. They may only take one type over another, drag their heels, or wait for someone to challenge this all in court.

Either way, I plan to get myself ready for if the opportunity should present itself. If not, then at least i'll be in shape.

It's about time this DADT junk went bye-bye,for such progressive country we are sure still living in the dark ages!!!!!!!!