Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN
Military Medical Standards: Health Care in Serious Need of Reform
Next month we celebrate the first anniversary of the end of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" (DADT). Amidst the joy, one group of patriots has nothing to celebrate. Transgender Americans remain unwanted warriors. Our military medical regulations pertaining to transgender individuals, written almost a half century ago and essentially unchanged since, reflect the same narrow perspective that historically excluded other unwanted groups from military service. Qualified individuals, even those who may differ from the status quo, should be allowed to serve the country they love and contribute to the military's mission.
As medicine is evolving in the 21st century, more emphasis is being placed on medical care based on evidence and implementing the best practices. Unfortunately, our current medical standards are not evidence-based; there is no medical support for a permanent ban on transgender individuals from ever being able to serve. To the contrary, forty years of evidence show that gender reassignment treatment provides positive benefits to individuals, improves their quality of life, and reduces or eliminates their gender dysphoria.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) last week stated that being transgender does not impair one’s “judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities…” This is something that ten allies, including Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and Israel, have already known for some time. Perhaps more importantly, they also recognize that, in military terms, transgender service members do not harm good order, discipline, and morale simply by being themselves.
The only three articles in the medical literature that address transsexuals in the US military in any manner were written during the Reagan era by then-serving medical officers. They are instructive because they show the true rationale behind the regulations: the real reasons for barring transsexuals were “similar to those excluding homosexuals (effects on unit morale).” George Brown, an Air Force psychiatrist, writing in 1989 was also as stark in his assessment of the situation:
[There] is a clear message that the military environment will not tolerate identified transsexuals in its ranks, irrespective of the quality of duty performance. [Emphasis added – Doesn’t this sound familiar?] Transsexualism continues to be viewed as a nonmedical defect requiring administrative separation, analogous to cases of homosexuality . . . in spite of ample medical evidence to the contrary.
In 2012, nothing has changed in the military.
However the world is rapidly changing and it is time for the military to catch up. There is a worldwide recognized standard of care established by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) - one the military refuses to accept despite its acceptance in 2008 by the American Medical Association (AMA). (Dr. Brown, mentioned above, serves on the WPATH board of directors.) The recent statement by the APA condemning discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals specifically cited the military’s policy in justifying its stance.
Adding further momentum for change in the military’s medical standards is the reported forthcoming change to the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM). The fifth version will remove gender identity disorder and remove the stigma of mental illness from those who are gender non-conforming in a similar manner as it did in 1973 when it removed homosexuality as a mental disease. Gender dysphoria, the condition which is treated by gender reassignment, will remain. The APA, AMA, and WPATH also call for the proper access to treatment for gender dysphoria – now denied to military members and veterans. (The law barring the VA from providing gender reassignment surgery is a cynical basis for the military’s process of administratively discharging transgender members with gender dysphoria rather than medically discharging them.)
Admiral Mike Mullen, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated repeal of DADT was a matter of integrity. The military’s use of medical regulations to bar transgender service, not for medical reasons but for unsubstantiated concerns about good order and morale, is no less an affront to the Core Values. It is time to admit that the medical standards completely barring all transgender service are nothing more than an echo of the same prejudices and pretextual arguments familiar from the DADT fight. The APA's welcome step forward gives us an opportunity to review our standards, ensuring they are evidence-based, reflecting the best medical practices, supporting the health care our men and women in uniform deserve, and providing for the best fighting force our nation can produce.
08-21-12 By Paula M. Neira RN, CEN, Esq. - Lieutenant, United States Navy / Naval Reserve (1985-1991) | Comment (0)
This One’s For Mel!
A little more than a year ago, a call came in to SLDN's legal hotline. On the other end was Melvin Dwork. 89 years old at the time. A World War II veteran.
You see, Mel needed a new hearing aid and some other medical services, and when he went to the Department of Veterans Affairs to apply, he was denied. The reason? He had been discharged for being gay in 1944, with a the characterization, "undesirable." An American patriot deemed unfit to serve by our military. Mel knew that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was about to be repealed and he wanted to make one last attempt - he had been trying for more than 50 years - to right this decades-old wrong.
At SLDN, we went immediately to work on Mel's case, and last September, just as DADT was being pushed into the dustbin of history, Mel received justice - an honorable discharge retroactive to 1944. This meant that he would be eligible for VA services, and perhaps just as important, a significant measure of dignity would be restored to his service in our military.
On September 18, Mel will join us aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City for a celebration marking the one-year anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." In many ways, this event is for Mel - and for the countless others who served in silence or whose dreams of wearing our nation's uniform were sidelined altogether because they were gay. It's also for all those now serving openly - and all who will in the future - without the fear of losing their careers simply for being who they are.
We need you there with us that night to pay tribute to Mel and to all these brave patriots. Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be there with us, and you will have an opportunity to thank him personally for his leadership. You don't want to miss this historic night.
Get your tickets today, and be a part of history with us!
08-20-12 By David McKean, SLDN Legal Director | Comment (0)
Patrick Murphy: Join Me to Celebrate One Year of DADT Repeal!
Two years ago we were in the fight of our lives.
We were scrambling to lock down the votes needed to repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. As the author of the House bill, I can tell you that no legislative battle was harder fought and no victory more satisfying.
Our work changed lives. It strengthened our military. It honored the brave gay and lesbian patriots, who could finally serve the country they love without hiding who they are.
We know there is more work to be done before we achieve full LGBT equality in the military, but it’s important that we pause to celebrate our historic accomplishment.
That's why I am excited to be on the host committee for "Celebrating Our Heroes," which will take place aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City to mark the one-year anniversary of DADT repeal. There, we will honor ALL service members and veterans, and pay tribute to someone who helped pave the way for our victory, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. As you know, his testimony about living a life of integrity was a powerful tipping point. I want you to be there with me to honor him and celebrate.
We expect more than 1,000 service members and veterans - gay and straight - and their civilian supporters and families to be on board the ship that evening. This is a great opportunity for us to show our support for gay and lesbian service members, who may now serve openly in our armed forces - and for all service members and veterans as we pay tribute to Admiral Mullen.
Don't let this historic opportunity pass you by. Join me in New York City on September 18th! We're going to have a great time!
Click here to purchase your tickets and attend.
Follow Patrick Murphy on Twitter @PatrickMurphyPA.
08-10-12 By Patrick J. Murphy, CPT, 82nd ABN, Iraq, 2003-2004 | Comment (0)
Order Your Signed Copy of “Our Time” Today!
Last year, just after repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law, OutServe co-founder and co-director, Josh Seefried, edited and released a book of essays from gay and lesbian service members and veterans who lived through these dark days in our history. In the book, Our Time, these brave patriots write of joining the military, knowing they would be forced to bury an integral part of themselves. Yet, they each joined because of a deep belief that the values of the military were worth the tremendous sacrifice.
Now, this intimate portrayal of their experiences is about to become available in paperback, updated with a new Afterword by Josh, and this is your chance to receive a signed copy of the book as soon as it's released to the public on August 28.
Throughout the book, we are reminded of the bravery and selflessness of the men and women who chose to serve our country and defend our liberties while their own freedom was withheld. It's a testament to the wrongs of the policy and a celebration of the good that endured in spite of it. We are in a new era of open service, but let us not forget what it was like for those who went before us. This book is their story.
Reserve your signed copy today with a contribution of at least $30 to SLDN.
08-09-12 By Aubrey Sarvis, Army Veteran & SLDN Executive Director | Comment (0)
‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Re-Visited As Anniversary Draws Near
By HuffPost Live (VIDEO)
It's been almost a year since the controversial repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- so what happens now?
That's the question asked on this great new segment from HuffPost Live. Joining us from across the nation for the intimate chat are Darrin Brunstad in Idaho, Sue Felton in New Jersey, Aharon Weintraub in Kentucky, Michael Holtz in Virginia and Tania Dunbar and her wife "It's impossible to describe how your life can change overnight literally," Brunstad says. "The day before [the repeal] we were all still hiding. We knew it was coming, but we didn't really believe that it would actually happen."
To read the entire article click here
08-08-12 By http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/04/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-anniversary-huffpost-live_n_1741885.html | Comment (0)
SLDN on the Road: American Bar Association Annual Conference
The American Bar Association held its annual meeting in Chicago this past weekend, and LGBT military service was on the agenda. The Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) hosted a panel entitled “LGBT Service Members and the Armed Forces One Year After Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The discussion was ably moderated by Vermont Law School Professor Jackie Gardina, and I was privileged to sit on the panel with former Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA), SLDN client Major Shannon McLaughlin, and the Family Equality Council’s Denise Brogan-Kator.
The panel was designed to take a look back at how DADT repeal came to pass, but also take stock of the remaining issues left to resolve before LGBT service members have true military equality. Rep. Murphy provided the insightful look back, recounting the nuts and bolts maneuvering that allowed for final passage of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010. Major McLaughlin provided an on-the-ground assessment of repeal’s implementation, while we both addressed what remains to be done for gay and lesbian service members to serve equally, including marriage recognition and benefits parity and access to the Military Equal Opportunity program. Ms. Brogan-Kator, a former Navy submariner, talked about the remaining bar on transgender service and possible paths forward.
Overall it was a wonderful panel and led to a fruitful discussion with questions from the audience. As we continue to advocate for full equality for LGBT service members, panels and discussions like this continue to be one of the most productive places to connect with the public, formulate ideas and get feedback. Thank you to the SOGI and the ABA for making it possible.
08-06-12 By David McKean, SLDN Legal Director | Comment (0)
