Posted on 05/14/2014 11:57:21 PM PDT by dennisw
As with gay and lesbian soldiers, the issue is not whether transgender people can serve in the armed forces. The point is that they — including the estimated 15,000 of them now serving — have to cover up their identities. Some refrain from seeking necessary hormone treatment or other medical care, suffering anguish and risking their physical and emotional health.
Three years after the demise of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” an estimated 15,000 members of the military still must lie about themselves in order to go on risking their lives for their country. (TRANNIES)
It was gratifying, then, to hear Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel say in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, “Every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it.” After all, unlike the ban on openly gay soldiers, the rule on transgender people is just a rule. There is no law prohibiting them from serving openly.
But, inexplicably, Mr. Hagel said only that he was “open” to reviewing the policy. He did not say whether he favored lifting the ban and when — or even whether — such a review might take place. There is none underway, and Mr. Hagel currently has no plan to start one. On Monday he told reporters he would prefer to learn more about the issue rather than begin a formal review.
“There is no compelling medical rationale for banning transgender military service,” and “eliminating the ban would advance numerous military interests, including enabling commanders to better care for their service members,” the panel said. Its report belongs at the top of Mr. Hagel’s reading list, along with the psychiatric community’s decision a year ago to finally stop mislabeling transgender identity as a mental disorder.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The worst of all is that Hagel is giving the Naval Academy Graduation speech next Friday. I am not going. I have been to 5 graduation speeches but skipping this one. I am just going to work in my office. I just can’t go and listen to this guy at all.
New York Times: We hate the military and everything to do with it.
“Chelsea” Manning, anyone?
The U.S. Military has 15000 transgender people serving.Our country is truly lost.
‘Some refrain from seeking necessary hormone treatment or other medical care, suffering anguish and risking their physical and emotional health.’
Necessary?
How is not cutting off your genetalia physically harmful.
Klinger comes to life!!!!
“The U.S. Military has 15000 transgender people serving.Our country is truly lost.”
What next, will the NYT demand drafting all the homeless?
I was thinking the same thing when I read “necessary hormone replacement”.
Necessary? As in, needed? As in, you can’t shoot your gun at the enemy because you haven’t had your daily hormones?
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