Transgender Discrimination In The Military Essay
I. Intro
a. Prior to 1973 being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender was viewed as a mental disorder, because of this policies within the U.S. military mirrored these views. When homosexuality was officially removed as a mental disorder in 1973 it took the military until 2010-2011 to make any substantial policy changes in regards to homosexuality. With the repeal of “Don’t ask don’t tell” it allowed homosexual personnel to serve openly in the military, however it still forced Transgender personnel to live in the shadows. Earlier this year the military lifted the ban on Transgender service members, allowing them to officially change their preferred gender on military records.
b. A study conducted in 2016 by the RAND corporation revealed approximately …show more content…
There are many issues involved with allowing transgenders to openly serve in the U.S. military. The main points that must be addressed are harrasment, Discrimination, Medical concerns, and how commanders enforce policies from the Dept of defense. Many of these issues can be handled by having an open mind and not worrying about the sexual orientation of the service member. The transition can be smooth if clear defined policies are written; the military has faced issues like this before. Most notably when women were first allowed to serve in the military.
b. The process for changing policies of this magnitude is slow, however moving forward is a requirement at this point. Vice President Biden once said “transgender discrimination is the civil rights issue of this time.”
c. In closing, I am a leader in the United States Navy. If one of my sailors happened to be transgender I would ensure they are treated the same way as any other sailor. I don’t believe any sailor should be discriminated against because of sexual orientation, sex, creed, or any other variable. They need to be able to do their job in a safe and non-discriminatory workplace. This doesn’t mean I think anyone should get special treatment or not meet the high standards the military sets forth, but if a service member does his/her job it nothing else
a. Prior to 1973 being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender was viewed as a mental disorder, because of this policies within the U.S. military mirrored these views. When homosexuality was officially removed as a mental disorder in 1973 it took the military until 2010-2011 to make any substantial policy changes in regards to homosexuality. With the repeal of “Don’t ask don’t tell” it allowed homosexual personnel to serve openly in the military, however it still forced Transgender personnel to live in the shadows. Earlier this year the military lifted the ban on Transgender service members, allowing them to officially change their preferred gender on military records.
b. A study conducted in 2016 by the RAND corporation revealed approximately …show more content…
There are many issues involved with allowing transgenders to openly serve in the U.S. military. The main points that must be addressed are harrasment, Discrimination, Medical concerns, and how commanders enforce policies from the Dept of defense. Many of these issues can be handled by having an open mind and not worrying about the sexual orientation of the service member. The transition can be smooth if clear defined policies are written; the military has faced issues like this before. Most notably when women were first allowed to serve in the military.
b. The process for changing policies of this magnitude is slow, however moving forward is a requirement at this point. Vice President Biden once said “transgender discrimination is the civil rights issue of this time.”
c. In closing, I am a leader in the United States Navy. If one of my sailors happened to be transgender I would ensure they are treated the same way as any other sailor. I don’t believe any sailor should be discriminated against because of sexual orientation, sex, creed, or any other variable. They need to be able to do their job in a safe and non-discriminatory workplace. This doesn’t mean I think anyone should get special treatment or not meet the high standards the military sets forth, but if a service member does his/her job it nothing else