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Veterans and Military Issues
Thirteen percent of all adults in the United States are veterans of the armed services. It is probable then that approximately thirteen percent of transgender people are veterans as well. Like all veterans, transgender people who have served in the military deserve the same respect and services earned by other veterans.
Transgender veterans at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass (DADTDPDH) is a federal policy that allows for the discharge of lesbian, gay, and bisexual military personnel based on their sexual orientation. The four component of DADTDPDH state that:
- Commanders and Inquiry Official may not ask servicemembers to reveal their sexual orientation. If asked, servicemembers are not required to provide information regarding their sexual orientation.
- Servicemembers may be discharged for saying they are lesbian, gay or bisexual or for saying they plan to “engage in homosexual acts”.
- A commanding official may initiate an investigation into a service member’s sexual orientation only if the service member has stated that they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual; have engaged in sexual activity with someone of the same sex; or attempts to marry someone of the same sex.
- Anti-gay harassment (verbal or physical) will not be tolerated.
Even though DADTDPDH has been in place for a number of years, military personal continually bend or break these rules.
Members of the US military needing legal assistance regarding the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy should contact the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network or 202-328-3244.
Selective Service
View current information about transgender people and the Selective Service. (New fact sheet updated July 2008)
Documentation
View current information about the DD214 and DD215 discharge papers for transgender people who have served in the military. (New fact sheet updated July 2008)
Transgender Veterans March to the Wall
From April 30th to May 2nd, 2004 the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) commemorated and celebrated transgender veterans in Washington, DC. Trans veterans and their allies from across the country gathered for this historic occasion.
NCTE helped kick off the weekend on the evening of April 30th by honoring the veterans with a welcome reception. The events continued the following day with a march to the Vietnam Wall, a visit to the Iwo Jima Memorial, and a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.
Angela Brightfeather, TAVA Special Projects Committee Chair and one of the March organizers, reflected on the ceremony at Arlington Cemetery with the following words, “As people watched us cry at the Tomb of the Unknown when the wreath was dedicated and announced as coming from the Transgender American Veterans Association, everyone present knew and understood that they were at that moment a part of an historic event. Humanity was honored in that short period of time.”
Transgender veterans have been rendered invisible by the transphobia that pervades our society. This weekend gave all of us the opportunity to honor transgender veterans and their service to our country.
Never before has an organization had the vision to organize such an event and NCTE applauds TAVA for the success of this weekend and their service to transgender veterans.
