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From All Over:
GenderNews
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Posted Sept 17 1998 |
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This August 2, Sunday Times story by Cherry Norton was comes via UKPFC-NEWS, of Press for Change, the UK's trans rights campaign. Info & online-archives: http://www.pfc.org.uk/pfclists/
The soldier, understood to have served in several war zones, is one of a number of transsexuals in the armed forces undergoing hormone treatment to become women. The disclosure poses serious problems for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which could face large compensation payouts for sexual discrimination if it tries to discharge them. Allowing them to continue in the service would, however, raise even more difficulties as to which units they served with and what jobs they could do. The sergeant-major joined the army when he was about 18, according to friends. He has represented Britain and the army in a variety of sports. About a year ago he started a hormone course that has brought about dramatic changes in his body and caused increasing difficulty in mingling with other men. Since then he has been concerned that other soldiers might notice the changes caused by the treatment. His breasts have grown large enough to show through his uniform, friends said, forcing him to wear a trench coat or other loose clothing. Her told a friend: "I am constantly worried that my top will burst open and I will be lynched by 3,000 soldiers." Despite this, however, the soldier wants to continue to serve. He was angered earlier this year when he was forced to go before a medical board. It proposed to discharge him on the grounds that he was mentally unfit and he is now awaiting confirmation of that decision from the MoD. He has told friends that if it goes ahead he like to sue the army for discrimination. Legal experts believe that such an action would succeed. A ruling last year gave transsexuals full protection from discrimination by employers, including the armed forces. The sergeant-major, who could be disciplined if he was identified, is said to have chosen a military career after seeing a sign saying: "Join the army and become a man." Dr Russell Reid, a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in transsexualism, said of the soldier: "he enjoyed the structure and discipline of the army and did very well. There was, however, always a nagging doubt about his gender and in recent years he has had the opportunity to cross-dress from time to time when he was on leave. There has been what I call a female takeover. "He feels he is living a lie in the male role and he has this driving, overriding, powerful need to be a she." The MoD confirmed that it knew of the case. "This is a personal matter between him and the army and it is not appropriate to comment further, " said a spokesman. Stephen Whittle, vice-president of Press for Change, a support group for transsexuals, and a senior lecturer in law at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "If the only reason for a medical discharge is that someone is transsexual, then I doubt it would be sufficient grounds now." Susan Marshall, 51, a bursar at Oxford University, served in the navy as a man for 23 years and reached the rank of commander. She left the navy and became a woman in 1993. She and may potential transsexuals joined the forces. "You have these very strong feeling that you are in the wrong body," she said. "In the military there are lots of male role models. But as you become more senior it becomes more difficult, because instead of following role models you actually become one." |
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These items were relayed to us by UKPFC-NEWS.
. . .A September 3rd Reuters story quotes Cameron as saying, "Our decision was based on our assessment of whether someone who had had (gender reassignment) surgery could serve in the military. The advice that we got from the specialists we consulted was that once somebody had been successfully treated, they should not be restricted from any military duties," Referring to the cost of the surgery and related treatments (estimated at between C$20,000 and C$40,000) and the fact that most provinces cover it under their health plans, Cameron said "There are some things that these patients sometimes have done cosmetically, like breast implants and so on. We would not pay for that. Nor do the provinces." The story ends with a final quote from Cameron: "I'm sure we're going to see cartoons of soldiers with beards and dresses and what have you. But the reality is when you look at the facts here, this is an illness and the treatment is effective and we're just providing the same level of medical care that the person would get were they a citizen in Canada." . . .For more details, read the original Ottawa Citizen story by David Pugliese at http://www.ottawacitizen.com/national/980902/1976838.html. On July 13, we posted this related story. |
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Excerpts from an August 29 message from Victoria S. Kolakowski vickykol@ix.netcom.com, Co-Chair, Bay Area Transgender Law Association (BATLAW)
Transgender hate crimes bill AB 1999 passes California legislature Yesterday the California Assembly gave me an early birthday present (yup, today is my birthday). With a 53-15 vote, they approved the Senate's technical amendments to AB 1999, the transgender hate crimes bill, and sent the bill to Governor Wilson. AB 1999 will amend the California hate crimes law to more clearly recite that gender identity and expression are covered under gender-based hate crimes (only San Francisco and Los Angeles counties presently include TG folk in their hate crimes classifications). It will also require anti-TG hate crime reporting and sensitivity training for law enforcement officials. We don't know what Wilson will do, but considering that the bill is endorsed by conservative Republican gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Dan Lungren, and was passed with most Republicans supporting the bill, it is doubtful that Wilson will make a stink about it (a veto might make TG issues an election issue, which nobody wants). As long as this doesn't hit the religious right's radar, things look good. Thanks to everyone for working so hard on the bill. Between Assembly member Sheila Kuehl (and her staffer Jennifer Richard), the defunct LIFE Lobby (and staffer Ellen McCormick), the Lambda Letters Project (and Boyce Hinman) and many others, we had a dynamite team who put together a winning bill. I'm working on a comprehensive list of heroic people who made this all possible. I'm proud to have had the opportunity to work with such a fine group. Even if Gov. Wilson vetoes the bill, it was a major step forward from two years ago, when a TG civil rights bill (SB 1964) died in committee without a single vote in favor (the Democrats on the committee left the room during the hearing). This time around, I don't recall a Democrat that didn't vote to support the bill. . . .On July 13, we posted this related story. |
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Page prepared by Beth Lewis.
A sergeant-major is facing expulsion from the army after 18 years' service
because he decide to have a sex change. He is considering legal action
against the army if it forces him out.
A September 2nd story in the Ottawa Citizen reports that Canada's Department of National Defense has decided to pay for gender reassignment surgery for its personnel, in certain cases. According to Col. Scott Cameron, director of medical services at National Defence Medical Centre, the policy was changed because of increased knowledge of gender identity disorder. "There's more known [now] about how effective the surgery is in returning people to a level of functioning consistent with military service," he added. The issue came up when an un-named soldier made a request for sex-change surgery.