Exclusion of TG Rights from DADT Repeal Spotlighted

[Carolyn Marie]

The Louisiana Fairness Campaign spotlighted a recently discharged transgender soldier to call attention to the fact that the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) has no effect on military policies towards TG people who serve.

http://www.wfpl.org/2011/09/27/fairness-campaign-spotlights-discharge-of-transgender-soldier/

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Donna Jean]

.

That's right.......

Trans people are not affected by the repeal of DADT at all.......

We'll still get booted out if found out!

I'm glad that I served my time in stealth, but in retrospect......I kinda don't want any part of an organization that doesn't want me!

Dee Jay

[Guest Mia J]

Left behind again.

If I may ask a question of those who know. So a TG person can not serve because they are administratively unfit. But yet they can get GID treatment at the VA? Would not one nullify the other? What about a post op? They have transitioned, wouldn't they be able to serve?

Mia

[Carolyn Marie]

As I understand it, Mia (and I'm certainly no expert), the VA will treat many things that were not directly connected to the veteran's service. Sometimes they have to pay for that treatment. It depends on their level of service connected disability. I think the only time someone would be barred from receiving treatment for GID is if they were other-than-honorably discharged.

Carolyn Marie

[Sally]

Left behind again.

If I may ask a question of those who know. So a TG person can not serve because they are administratively unfit. But yet they can get GID treatment at the VA? Would not one nullify the other? What about a post op? They have transitioned, wouldn't they be able to serve?

Mia

Mia,

You are attempting to analyze a government agency logically - it cannot be done - we have contradictory laws and practices all over the place - just one more.

Dee Jay is treated like a lady at the VA and given her hormones with no trouble at all but if they had seen what she wore under her flight suit she would have been booted out and have no VA benefits at all - a matter of timing I guess, like being for capital punishment and against abortions.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Mia J]

Here is some more information on this issue and an interview with Rebecca.

The audio leaves a lot to be desired.

http://www.care2.com/causes/trans-veterans-discharge-highlights-need-for-equality-video.html

Mia

[Guest Michellewhois]

I have two links that talk about the problems trans folks face in the military. First is: http://www.care2.com/causes/groups-advise-trans-servicemembers-ahead-of-dadt-repeal.html The second is a link that talks about VA care: http://www.transequality.org/PDFs/VHA_Trans_Health.pdf

[Guest roxannemariska]

It's definitely the last taboo. How military that DADT dropped the T off of LGB.

[Guest Maggie_O]

OK, I have been in this discussion inside DOD at some pretty high levels. Make no mistake - NO ONE in any level of power in the Pentagon was in favor of the repeal of DADT and will passively fight it in any way they can. That's why there is exclusion of the T part of LGBT. They are perfectly aware that we are out there and there is a rational argument for acceptance/inclusion. After all, everyone with GID is either lesbian, gay or bi. If they really WANTED to be nice they could easily include it. One excuse many have cited to me is their concern that it would invite everyone in the country with GID to enlist and demand the military pay for transition. Another thing mentioned is that opening THAT door - repeal of DADT - is an open invitation for every group in the country to demand acceptance/legalization. They will drag their feet to do that as long as possible because they hate ALL OF IT.

What it will take is a person with backing and resources to attack them in court using all of the rational arguments tying trans-folks directly to the LGB group. It's win-able, but the fight will be long and ugly.

Needless to say, I HATE it.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Needless to say, I HATE it.

Needless to say....I agree!

Donna Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

After all, everyone with GID is either lesbian, gay or bi.

Maggie, I agree with everything you said, except that part above. There are plenty of TS folks who consider themselves heterosexual. If you were quoting the military's attitude about it, then I misunderstood, and stand corrected.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Cyndi]

It definitely will be a fight, one that will take a few high profile individuals raising Cain over this blatant disregard for an entire section of the population. It's illogical to say that our military is made up of a cross-section of the population as a whole when the DoD pretends we're not there or are unfit, yet...here we are!

Hopefully in the future, those of us hiding in the corners, biding our time, will be able to become advocates for change to this inequality. Unfortunately for the time being, most of us will be forced to live a lie and finish our time in silence lest we be stripped of our hard earned benefits, defending those who chose to ignore and discriminate against us.

Cyndi

[Guest Hlali]

Tne excuse many have cited to me is their concern that it would invite everyone in the country with GID to enlist and demand the military pay for transition. Another thing mentioned is that opening THAT door - repeal of DADT - is an open invitation for every group in the country to demand acceptance/legalization.

I despise the "slippery slope" analogies. First off, not everyone in the country with GID is going to be able to get adequate scores on the ASVAB; another group will be disqualified because of age; and even more people will be disqualified because they're not healthy enough...and to all three of these things, the standards are going to be far more rigorous as operations in Iraq has all but ceased, and eventually as Afghanistan is withdrawn from. This isn't 2005, when the military was desperate for recruits and allowed waivers for people much older than the standard age of enlistment, too many tattoos, or criminal records.

Secondly...who else is going to clamor for admission that is already excluded from service? With the exception of people who should NOT be allowed to serve (convicted felons/sex offenders, members of hate groups, and people who are not physically able), I can't think of any group that is blanket-excluded from serving, aside from the trans* community.

Maggie' date=' I agree with everything you said, except that part above. There are plenty of TS folks who consider themselves heterosexual. If you were quoting the military's attitude about it, then I misunderstood, and stand corrected.[/quote']

I think she was using some sarcasm

[Guest Maggie_O]

I was being both sarcastic and from heir POV. To the mil bullies the think that all trams people are just another form of gay/queer. I've even heard some just refer to all LGBT people as freaks. They make little distinction and will use any unprotected group as a target for their prejudicial rage. They are all convinced that we've ruined their world forever. We have, but I think that's a good thing.

[Guest Maggie_O]

I thought I'd clarify it further. I've spent countless years talking and working within relatively high circles in the military. As I said, all of the non-LGBT people I've ever heard express an opinion equate transfolk as gay in one way or another. Their reasoning goes something like this:

If you're a transsexual man (MTF) then you feel you're really a woman so if you're still attracted to women then you're a lesbian. But if you're really a woman and attracted to men like a heterosexual woman would be, you're still gay because regardless of what you think you're still biologically male. Then for FTM's, just reverse that crap and you have it in a nutshell. So in their view we're gay no matter what else we might claim.

So, we can use that to our advantage. After all, if they want to see us as gay, then we have to be included in the repeal of DADT.

Beyond that we can directly attack any claim they we're unfit for service in any way because all of those old assumptions are all directly based on the above convoluted logic. They're continued exclusion of us and attacks upon us are just a way for them to have retained some of their rancor against all LGBT people; thereby creating, in us, a special class of people for the sole purpose of being able to be discriminatory toward them.