Sexual orientation and gender identity in the United States military

Sexual orientation and gender identity in the United States military varies greatly as the United States Armed Forces have become increasingly openly diverse in the regards of queer people.

Groups

Non-heterosexuals

In modern-day the United States allows homosexuals, bisexuals and pansexuals to serve openly in the armed forces and gives fully equal treatment legally to their partners and families.

Transgender people

Transgender people are able to serve in the United States armed forces and the organization is obligated to provide medically necessary surgery to those who wish for it.

Intersex persons

The accepting of intersex people in the United States Armed Forces seems to vary depending on the nature of the condition for individual people.[1] Publications by the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information recommends that intersex individuals be allowed to serve in the armed forces, but not combat units.[2] The Veterans Health Administration distinguishes between surgeries for transgender individuals and intersex persons. In 2015 this allowed intersex persons to receive medically necessary treatment that was prohibited for trans people at the time.[3][4]

Transvestites or cross-dressers

In 2012 transvestism was included in a list of conditions which disqualified individuals for service under the Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03.[5] The ban dates back to 1961.[6] The repeal of Don't ask, don't tell did not allow crossdressers to serve openly in the armed forces.[7][8]

Memorials for Queer veterans

In the year 2000, a memorial to all veterans and to LGBT veterans was dedicated in the national veterans cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.[9] In 2001, the first American memorial specifically honoring LGBT veterans was dedicated in Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California.[9] In 2014, the third LGBT Veterans Memorial was dedicated at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico by the Bataan chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights.[10] In May 2015, the first American federally-approved monument honoring LGBT veterans with the message "Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have served honorably and admirably in America's armed forces" was dedicated at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery near Chicago;[11] the US$18,000 monument was dedicated by the Chicago Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights, and was defaced by vandals in June 2017.[12][13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/fact/gender-sexuality-and-joining-the-military/
  2. ↑ Marom, T.; Itskoviz, D.; Ostfeld, I. (2008). "Intersex patients in military service". Military Medicine. 173 (11): 1132–5. PMID 19055190.
  3. ↑ http://transveteran.org/faq/va-distinguish-transsexual-gender-confirmation-surgery-intersex-surgery/%5Bfull+citation+needed%5D
  4. ↑ https://www.care2.com/causes/va-issues-new-directive-on-trans-and-intersex-veteran-health-care.html%5Bfull+citation+needed%5D
  5. ↑ "Department of Defense Instruction Number 6130.03" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of Defense. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  6. ↑ https://www.palmcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Why-the-US-Militarys-Transgender-Ban-Unraveled-So-Quickly-1.pdf
  7. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20150928000030/http://www.dallasvoice.com/what-about-transvestite-clothing-in-the-military-1053266.html
  8. ↑ https://www.onenewsnow.com/national-security/2017/08/25/trumps-transgender-ban-lets-troops-get-back-to-business
  9. 1 2 "National LGBT Veterans Memorial". Nlgbtvm.org. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  10. ↑ LTC Steve Loomis (May 26, 2014). "New Inclusive Memorial Honors LGBT Veterans".
  11. ↑ "Monument to LGBT veterans dedicated in Elwood". abc7chicago.com. Retrieved 2015-05-26.
  12. ↑ Philipps, Dave (26 July 2017). "For Transgender Service Members, a Mix of Sadness, Anger and Fear". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  13. ↑ Gallagher, Erin (23 June 2017). "Monument dedicated to LGBT veterans defaced at Abraham Lincoln cemetery". Daily Southtown. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
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