Transgender Veteran Speaks About Being Discharged

[The Philosopher]

from The Advocate

A soldier who served in the Army National Guard for a decade was discharged two weeks before "don't ask, don't tell" was removed from service because she is transgender.

Staff Sergeant Rebecca Grant toured overseas in Bosnia and Iraq. In 2009, a fellow soldier revealed that Grant is transgender, leading to her official discharge earlier this month. While she told WFPL News in Louisville, Ky. that getting rid of "don't ask, don't tell" is a positive step in the right direction, she added that there's still no protection for transgender people serving in the military.

“With education this could change, people being informed on the different issues, not being closed-minded, not being ultra-conservative. Allowing us to have the rights that we should have had as a United State citizen, we need change,” she says.

....

U.S. Army regulations state that transgender people are unfit to serve. Grant was discharged because of gender identity disorder.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/28/Transgender_Veteran_Speaks_About_Being_Discharged/">Click Here To Read & Watch More

[racaulk]

1. This is an excellent reminder.

The repeal of DADT alone was not a panacea for military service for the GLBT community. Our transgender brothers and sisters have been left behind (so far), and it is up to all of us to continue to speak out, educate, and push for their full inclusion. Any American should have the full right to serve if he or she chooses, including those that constitute the "T" in GLBT.

K&R!

[xchrom]

2. +1

[Creideiki]

3. I once worked with a Navy jet fighter pilot who was transgender

She left on her own terms, but from one conversation, if she could have stayed without hiding she would have. You can put the taxpayer tab on that one in the millions. All to protect the bigots' widdle feewings.

[yardwork]

4. A shame on our country that this continues.

[bullwinkle428]

5. A reaction from a gay soldier discharged under DADT pretty much

puts everything into context - "I felt like I was fired by my country." :( :( :(