The unjust and unfair policy know as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was thankfully repealed in 2010 allowing those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual to join the military freely. But what about those who citizens who identify as Transgender? Can they join?
The answer is they are still barred from service, and sadly, I must say it is for good reason.
Right now, you may be asking "what does the term 'Transgender' even mean?"
Well, first you need to know what the norm is. This is called Cisgender and it is what a majority of people identify as. The term refers to one whose gender matches their biological sex. Transgender therefore describes someone whose psychological gender does not match their biological sex. A transman, for example, is a woman who identifies as a man while a transwoman is a man who identifies as a woman.
You have many different LGBT groups around the country that fight for rights and awareness in their own regions. They provide support, counseling, help, anything to help those who are LGBT.
In the military, this group is called Outserve-SLDN and they originally formed to fight "Don't ask Don't tell." They are now trying to get equal rights for all soldiers. Currently, the battle they are fighting for the Transgender community is changing the regulations on who can join from being based on sex to if you simply can fight for your country.
Personally, I must disagree with this idea.
According to Outserve-SLDN's page on Transgender issues, the rules are as follows. If you are cisgender, you can join the military freely; if you are transgender however, you cannot, at all. The reasons for this are both "medical" and "conduct" related.
Medically, the Army sees Transgender people as possessing "a mental health condition", much like depression or schizophrenia. To be honest, they do tend to have a higher rate of depression because of the dysphoria they experience as well as a host of other issues. The depression may be worsened or brought on by the harassment that accompanies this identity. According to this website, a whopping 90% of Transgender people experience some form of bias in the civilian workplace, so imagine what they would receive if they joined a place like the military. If an open transwoman, for example, joined, what would she experience? Most likely a great amount of bias. This could lead to the break down of a squad as sides formed. In a combat situation, this divide can be deadly because it means the bonds that hold the team together will be weaker, meaning the squad won't be as effective, won't respond as quickly, and may have discipline issues.
Conduct wise, "the military strictly regulates uniform and grooming standards by gender." For this reason, a Transwoman would have to dress and present as a man, the sex they don't identify with or face the the punishment of not following them; a potential criminal charge. This condition may erode her mental condition and cause her to develop issues psychologically. A military is also very big on discipline and needs to keep their regulations. If not, discipline and overall effectiveness may begin to become more lax and degrade. The extension of these rights to an individual may also may show favoritism and thus cause resentment to form among that soldier's peers, further separating the units.
Personally, in my heart, I feel that those who identify as Transgender should be allowed into the Army out of purely ethical reasons and my personal beliefs, but drawing from my little time with ROTC and previous experience, I can see why the Army says no. I sincerely want to believe they should be let in and retained because of the same reasons held by Outserve. I however cannot say this is correct because I feel that they are going to be more of a hindrance than a help and thus cannot be allowed in the field. Their presence will only harm the mission and those around them.
However, if it is possible for a Transgender person to not out themselves, it may work. If a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" like policy was brought into existence requiring that Transgender identifiers simply never mentioned there gender identity they should be allowed to join and work because they would not open themselves up to the harassment and hurt. This would allow those citizens who wish to serve their country, and who should be allowed too, to join the military. The problem is, this request may harm the individual more and cause them to develop depression and thus reduce their effectiveness. The reason for this is suppression of any kind only hides the feelings, it doesn't make them go away. These latent feelings will slowly eat away at the person, causing problems.
It is a hard thing for me to say, but I can't see it happening and I agree with why the Army says no. As a supporter of LGBTQ rights, I must firstly say that I am sorry to all those who read this. I must say the old rules should stay because they ensure the most safety for all involved. As my instructor stated in class, "once the bullets start flying, democracy ends." Rights end and rules are broken because lives are at stake. Because of this, I must, with a heavy heart, say I agree with the current regulations. There isn't a place in war to make everyone happy.
Sources:
"A history of 'don't ask, don't tell'." Washington Post. 30 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Sept. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/dont-ask-dont-tell-timeline/>.
"Transgender People and Military Service." OutServe-SLDN. Web. 11 Sept. 2014. <http://www.sldn.org/pages/transgender-people-and-military-service>.
"Transgender 101." GLAAD. Web. 11 Sept. 2014. <http://www.glaad.org/transgender/trans101>.
Readings for MS-1 and previous study and understanding of the military also provided a background for statements provided.
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