GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

This is for those people who are Active, Reserve, Guard, ROTC, JROTC, Contractor and Foreign Military members.

I’ve been trading emails recently with several people in various advocate/support groups. I’ve been asked to pass the following along.

If are Active, Reserve, Guard, ROTC, JROTC, Contractor or Foreign Military, please do not post any identifying information or photo’s of yourself or of an active operational theater. Please maintain informational security for your safety and the safety of those who are assisting you.

Current status of Transgender citizens serving in the US Military:

Quick Facts:
DADT does not apply to being Transgendered. DADT only applies to Gays and Lesbians.
Being Transgendered falls under those psychological disorders that bars service in the US Military.
Being Intersexed falls under those physical defects that bars service in the US Military.

As of right now, no one is pulling to include Transgender or Intersexed personnel in the DADT argument. So, if DADT is repealed Transgender and Intersexed people will still have to deal with being ‘forced out’.

Being ‘forced out’ this year has meant the paperwork being filled out by a military psychologist and forwarded to the command. For the most part, they’ve let the service member stay until their EAOS (end of obligated service) and given Honorable Discharges with full benefits. (all of these people had less than a year left of their contract so it hardly mattered)

I’ve known of one to be allowed to start HRT while on active duty. They had less than 6 months left of service and their discharge was already approved.

IN MY OPINION, the current best practice for most (US only) would be to;

1. Wait until you have less than a year left on your contract (INCONUS, OUTCONUS but not in Operational area).
1a. If you have just come back from deployment to the operational theater and have 18 months left (It is best to go immediately after returning from any deployment).
1c. –WORST PRACTICE- Waiting until the week before deployment to say anything, to anyone about Gender issues. They will not listen.

2. Go to the military therapist on base (Yes, this is intimidating and will eventually lead to discharge. Your leaving anyway right?) and talk to them about your gender issues. This is part of your FREE MEDICAL BENEFITS. Use them. Push as hard as you can for the proper treatment. Ask the therapist if it’s possible to see a civilian therapist that does have experience dealing with people who have gender issues. Inform them of AMA Resolution 212 for the proper treatment of Transgender patients. You may be referred out to a civilian (and if you are, push them for a referral to an endo to start HRT *hint*) and if you are, you will still have to see the military therapist monthly or bi-monthly. (The military Therapists are over worked right now and do refer people out to civilians but have to still keep track of you)

3. Do not discuss your Gender Issues within your command. Some will be understanding, some will want to do you physical harm. Most will just be confused.

4. Make plans for after your service. Move someplace that is accepting of Trans people and use your GI Bill to go to college. Try to use your military experience in your career track. Ask your Trans friends on advice and net work with them. (Me? My current job? Nearly the same as my military job. Work place? Totally cool and ACCEPTING OF TRANSGENDER EMPLOYEES! How did I find this dream job? One of my many Transgender friends just happened to work there… and talked me in to taking the job. After I got here I found out that there are a lot of Trans people working here so I am not alone, neither will you be)

Discharges, typically Honorable Discharge.
Re-enlistment codes given;
Transgender is RE-3G Condition (not physical disability) interfering with performance of duty.
Intersexed is RE-3P Physical Disability.
Some have gotten RE-4.

Military Separation Codes;
Its best that you print out the long list and make sure your DD214 doesn’t have a landmine in it. What you really want is either a 201,202 or 203. Here’s a link to a list of the codes.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blcode1.htm

Post Service;
I’ve traded some emails with some people. As of right now, the VA does have care in place and new regulations are going in to effect soon to address Transgender Veterans needs for psychological counseling and HRT.

Foreign Military members;
Currently, many of the allied countries of the US do allow GLBT citizens to serve. Your best way forward is to find a fellow commrade who has served or is serving and is Transgendered to help guide you through the process.

If you have any input, please feel free.
I would appreciate those people who are prior military and do have valid data to add to include rank, branch of service and year of discharge {AT1/USN/2005}. If your active, do so at your own risk {PFC/USA/ACT}.

If anyone has any questions for me, I’m willing to help as I can.

Gina AT1/USN/2005

An intersex soldier has served in the US military and is a decorated veteran.

I wouldn't expect the guys at the recruiting office to have much of an understanding of the diverse types of intersex folks out there.

If you got genitalia that can be classified as clearly male or clearly female, how are they going to know (or care) about XO or XXY?

In you go.

I really would suggest, waiting til you are discharged from military service.

I would not wait for VA, to help much with your transition. I have found out, personally, that the VA is very ignorant regarding transsexuality. I am a disabled veteran, and had to wait til after I had my SRS,before VA, would allow doctor to write prescription for HRT. I had to have my civilian doctor write prescription for estrogen. Then in turn give it to VA doctor who would write another prescription so , that their pharmacy would give me estrogen.


The Va is not very understanding. Regarding anything,outside what they consider "normal". Besides here in Oregon, the Va is is actually cutting services, and sending veterans to civilian doctors, and hospitals. Which may be a good thing, as I find a lot of VA doctors, are only working at the VA, because VA paid for their education. An they have to work for the VA. An I suspect some of these doctors, were not in the top ten of their graduating class.