Trans Servicemembers: Coming Out May Cause Discharge

Filed By Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 14, 2011 9:00 AM

http://www.bilerico.com/2011/09/trans_servicemembers_coming_out_may_cause_discharg.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The National Center for Transgender Equality and the Servicemembers' Legal Defense Network today issued a joint press release noting that coming out may still lead to discharge for transgender and transsexual service members. Of course, those who have been following the issue already knew this, but in the hoopla over the end of the anti-gay Don't Ask, Don't Tell military policy, those who haven't been following closely may have missed this part.

The press release also contains some useful information for trans servicemembers. SLDN's guide, a link to which can be found in the press release after the jump, makes clear the distinction between DADT discharges and discharges for trans status.

One thing that REALLY bothers me is this (from the press release):

Quotetransgender people are still unable to serve openly.

I don't want to serve openly. I never did. I just wanted to be able to continue to keep to myself, quietly transition, and continue doing my job. I also would like to COME BACK IN after I transition to a female, even as a non-op.

Seems to me that too many people are focusing on the wrong part of the issue. Or maybe I just don't "get" the need to tell my sexuality to every passer-by.

*twitch*