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Introduction
Transgender is an umbrella term that has come to include a broad spectrum of people, including, but certainly not limited to transsexuals.
Transgender Service Members in the USA military were never covered under the DADT act, and as a result, will not gain any new rights as a result of the repeal of DADT. In order to serve, they must remain heavily in the closet – no matter what their transgender condition. USA Military regulations treat all transgender conditions as mental illnesses; as a result it considers them unfit for service.
DOD FED GLOBE does not consider any transgender condition a mental illness. In addition, affirms that both transsexual and intersex conditions are medical conditions that may require medical and surgical treatment. Receiving of these treatments should NOT preclude service from the individuals just like receiving medical care for other conditions does not preclude service, as these treatments have no impact on the individual’s ability to perform any duties assigned. Many of our allied armed services (including those of the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia) allow transgender individuals to serve in all areas, including combat arms.
The APA continues to classify transsexuals as having a mental disorder (Gender Identity Disorder – per DSM-IV) (like they used to classify homosexuality), despite a preponderance of research demonstrating that this is a medical condition and not a psychological one. We are and will continue to collaborate with other organizations to educate the APA and any other related organizations that this situation needs to be remedied.
Transgender Medical Facts
A team of scientists has discovered differences in the brains of transgender people.
The researchers, at the National University of Distance Education in Madrid, Spain, believe their technique could help doctors identify transgender people at an early age, giving them more options for treatment, such as delaying the onset of puberty.
According to New Scientist, the study looked at the white matter of the brain and its structural differences in men, women and female-to-male transgender people.
They used MRI scans on the brains of 18 trans men who had not started hormone treatment with 24 men and 19 women.
The results showed that trans men – those born biologically female but living as male – had white matter where it is usually found in male brains.
This is thought to be the first time that scientists have been able to show that trans men’s brains are masculinised.
In another study, they compared the brains of 18 trans women – born male but living as female – with 19 men and 19 women.
The trans women’s brains showed that the structure of the white matter was halfway between a typical male and a typical female brain.
Antonio Guillamon, who led the research, said: “Their brains are not completely masculinised and not completely feminised, but they still feel female.”
The study will be published in Volume 45, Issue 2 of the Journal of Psychiatric Research February 2011.
Transgender Informative Links
Overview of Issues Facing Transgender Service Members and Veterans
Transgender Americans are banned from serving in the military under all conditions. They may not enlist -- regardless of whether they have medically transitioned or not -- and service members that tell their peers about their gender identity or who are suspected of being transgender can be discharged or sometimes jailed.
This includes sharing feelings with a psychologist or doctor. The discharge classification commonly given to separated transgender troops is the same discharge classification used for exhibitionism and voyeurism.
Cross-dressing and other actions that do not follow strict military rules on gender behavior can also put transgender and gender non-conforming military personnel at risk. For instance, Air Force Major Joanne DeGroat, before she began presenting as a woman full time, was discharged
after 15 years of service solely for following her Air Force psychologist’s advice to dress in women’s clothing while off-duty and off-base as a part of her treatment.
Transgender military personnel have served successfully and with distinction in the U.S. Armed Forces, waiting to transition until they have finished their service. According to the Transgender American Veterans Association, it is estimated that there are at least 300,000 transgender
veterans. Sadly, transgender veterans run into discrimination and harassment even after retirement.
A 2008 survey conducted by the Palm Center and the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) reports that one-in-ten (10%) of transgender veterans were denied their veteran’s health benefits and turned away from the Veterans Administration (VA) for being transgender. Almost one-quarter were discriminated against by VA doctors (22%) and non medical staff (21%) at VA clinics. Many others (over one-third) have been discriminated against at their jobs or have not been hired because they were transgender. Diane Schroer, a former Army Special Forces commander, won a high-profile case in 2008 against the Library of Congress after they rescinded a job offer upon discovering that she was transgender (see Schroer v. Library of Congress).
What is the Department of Defense's Stance on Transgender Military
Service?
The Department of Defense suggests that the "enlistment of transsexuals would not be in the best interest of the individual or the military service. Transsexuals are not considered psychologically or sociologically suited for military service, and they require continuing sophisticated medical care because of the absence of organs and glands normally present in an
individual at birth."1
Transgender Americans seeking enlistment that have not transitioned are usually considered ineligible because of a "psycho-sexual disorder." Transgender Americans that have sought medical transition services are considered ineligible because of "[m]ajor abnormalities and defects of the genitalia."2
Why Open Military Service to Transgender Americans?
Americans support a strong military and national defense, and most Americans
1 Employment Protection and Gender Dysphoria: Legal Definitions of Unequal Treatment on the Basis of Sex and
Disability; Wein, Stuart A.; Remmers, Cynthia Lark.
2 Derived from Department of Defense (DOD) Directive 6130.3, "Physical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, and
Induction," and DOD Instruction 6130.4, "Criteria and Procedure Requirements for Physical Standards for Appointment,
Enlistment, or Induction in the Armed Forces."
Understand that our military is currently stretched too thin.
With the critical need for troops with specialized skills and engagements in multiple world theaters, Americans believe that any patriotic American who is qualified to serve should be allowed to do so -- including transgender
Americans like former Air Force Major Joanne DeGroat, who was discharged solely for following her Air Force psychologist’s advice to dress in women’s clothing while off-duty and off-base as a part of her treatment for “Gender Identity Disorder”. The ban that exists on military service by transgender individuals is not only unfair to those who serve honorably, but
harms our country's readiness and national security by limiting the induction and retention of vital personnel.
Transgender service members have already served with distinction and success in the U.S. Armed Forces, not only putting their lives on the line for our nation, but sacrificing their ability to be who they truly are in order to serve [alt: waiting to transition until they have finished their service]. It is estimated that there are at least 300,000 transgender veterans,3 like former
Army Special Forces commander Diane Schroer, who have worked at the highest levels of the Pentagon with leaders like former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to protect our country from terrorism. Opening the military officially to transgender Americans would honor the commitment and sacrifice of those who have served and those who continue to serve in silence.
Transgender troops already perform their duties with honor and distinction in seven countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Australia. U.S. military personnel have served successfully and without interruption alongside five of these forces in Iraq, with no impact on military effectiveness.
Opening America's Armed Forces to transgender personnel would only lead to our increased cohesion and ability to work with our global allies.
Transgender Americans have a long history of service in our nation's military and in similar fields. Transgender soldiers have been a part of America's military since the Revolutionary War and have served honorably beside their comrades in all engagements. A part of American life, transgender Americans have also risked their lives to protect our towns and borders as paramedics, police officers and firefighters -- high stress jobs that clearly show that gender identity is not related to job effectiveness or performance.
Most transgender people do not require health care that is any more complex than the average American. Pre- and post-transition care are easily managed with infrequent visits to medical personnel, with hormone replacement therapies available now via patches and pills, much like birth control. Misunderstandings about transition need not be a barrier to service, any more than other regular medical conditions, as transgender Americans are just as able to serve in all capacities -- including deployment -- as non-transgender troops. Medical services for transgender people are also already being provided at many Veterans Administration health centers, removing another alleged barrier to a transgender-inclusive military.
Just as the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban had unimagined negative impacts on our military's cohesion and effectiveness in combat operations, the ban on transgender service leads to similar problems by forcing service members to lie to their comrades and operate against basic military values of truth and honor. In highly stressful operating situations, trust and confidence among unit members is at a premium. The real risk and distraction comes from forcing transgender troops to hide their gender identity from their peers, not from allowing transgender service members to be open and honest with their comrades.
3 Transgender American Veterans Association.
© 2013 Created by DOD FED GLOBE.
