The Invisible T: At Columbus Pride
2:54 PM - 29 June 2012
posted by Brynn Tannehill, 29th June 2012
http://outservemag.com/2012/06/the-invisible-t-at-columbus-pride/Most LGBT members of the military have spent the majority of their lives learning to blend in with the crowd. Prior to military service we hid our orientation or gender identity. We all learned in basic training that standing out was a bad thing. We all tried to blend to some degree before the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Many still keep up the act for the sake of their careers.
When we come out, though, the experiences of lesbians and gays begin to diverge from those who transition between genders. While both groups experience turmoil in terms of their friendships and family as they come out, transsexuals are faced with the daunting task of learning to be themselves and blending in again as a member of the opposite sex at the same time.
It may seem as though being true to yourself shouldn't require trying to blend in. Attempting to conform would seem to suggest a lack of authenticity. This is not the case for transgender individuals, though. For a transitioning person taking steps to match your self-image to societal norms is the standard treatment for dysphoria, necessary for having proper legal paperwork, a must for securing decent employment, protects against violently transphobic individuals, and is essential for general acceptance in society.
