Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Honor Every Veteran

Serving As Transgender; Honoring Every Veteran When most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people think about Don't Ask, Don't Tell or the Solomon Amendment, they think about how these impact gay and lesbian service members. Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Solomon Amendment impact more than just gays and lesbians. There are many who don't see differences between effeminate gay men, drag queens, cross-dressers, and transsexuals -- these groups are seen by many as all just gay men, identified as gay by their gender non-conformity. And, it's equally true that natal women are perceived as lesbian when the look or behave "too masculine." This past week, the Gay & Lesbian Times highlighted my Don't Ask, Don't Tell story in their magazine. I experienced Don't Ask, Don't Tell as a subordinate and to my Executive Officer (XO) on the ship I was serving, who saw me as someone who was likely gay -- identified as such due to my inability to present as a masculine enough man. I wasn't gay, but I was perceived as gay. I experienced male-on-male sexual harassment in the last eight months in the Navy, in a way that was directly related to Don't Ask, Don't Tell rules, and was a closeted transgender person trying to make it through the end of obligated service so that I could retire at 20-years. I love America. I served my country for 20-years in large part because I love my country. And yet, America does herself great disservice by not embracing the idea of letting her LGBT citizens to openly serve their country in the military -- as we are, and not closeted. LGBT service members shouldn't be required to live in fear of discharge due to real or perceived sexual orientation, or due to real or perceived gender non-conformity. Last Saturday night, I met a transgender, active duty service member at a fundraiser for the upcoming http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/">Transgender Day Of Remembrance memorial service. This Petty Officer serves our country honorably, but should the Petty Officer be discovered to be transgender, my nation would "honor" this closeted service member's decade-plus of sacrifice with a discharge indicating a "personality disorder." This isn't a way to honor every service member or a way to honor every veteran. Our nation would best honor our LGBT service members and veterans by allowing our active duty LGBT service members to serve openly as they are. Honoring every veteran is an ideal worth embracing. -Retired Navy Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen You may have missed: Monday - Former Marine Sergeant Brian Fricke Tuesday - Prior US Army Major Jeff McGowan Wednesday - Former Army First Lieutenant Steve Boeckels Thursday - Former Air Force Staff Sergeant David Hall Friday - Former Navy Petty Officer Jason Knight Saturday - Former Navy Petty Officer Stephen Benjamin Sunday - Sharon Alexander, Prior US Army Captain Thank you to all of those that have contributed to this blog series and in helping to salute all of our Veterans and their service to our country. -Jason Knight

Labels: autumn sandeen, honor every veteran

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11-12-07