Transgender vets want military access for own

[unhappycamper]

Transgender vets want military access for own
By LISA LEFF
The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 11, 2011; 5:32 AM

SAN FRANCISCO -- Before handcuffing herself to the White House fence, former Petty Officer First Class Autumn Sandeen carefully pinned three rows of Navy ribbons to her chest. Her regulation dress blue skirt, fitted jacket, hat and black pumps were new - fitting for a woman who spent two decades serving her country as a man.

Sandeen was the only transgender person among the six veterans arrested in April while protesting the military's ban on openly gay troops. But when she watched President Barack Obama last month sign the hard-fought bill allowing for the ban's repeal, melancholy tinged her satisfaction.

"This is another bridesmaid moment for the transgender community," the 51-year-old San Diego resident said.

The "don't ask, don't tell" policy now heading toward history does not apply to transgender recruits, who are automatically disqualified as unfit for service. But the military's long-standing posture on gender-identity has not prevented transgender citizens from signing up before they come out, or from obtaining psychological counseling, hormones and routine health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs once they return to civilian life.

So as the Pentagon prepares to welcome openly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members for the first time, Sandeen is not alone in hoping the United States will one day join the seven other nations - Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Australia - that allow transgender troops.

[One_Life_To_Give]

1. It is well time for this

It's not the clothes you wear that makes one a soldier/sailor/airman.
I had suspected that our military had an above average population of transgenders. If the numbers from the article 300,000 out of 26mil are accurate. That is more than twice the density in the population as a whole.

[hlthe2b]

2. Too bad the article didn't discuss how Canada, UK, Israel...

and the other countries address accommodation. I would have thought that to be an important aspect to the story. Do they pay for reassignment surgery? Allow the individual to remain on active duty during the interim period? What is the prevalence among their troops? (Rhetorical questions, obviously)

[tonekat]

3. I've always been amazed at how many other TS girls I meet

Are former military. Part of that is due to my being in the DC area, I suppose.