Pvt Manning's revelation as a transgender military person should start a conversation...

[MrScorpio]

Although I doubt that the military command wants ANY conversation about transgender troops in the ranks.

It should come to no surprise that there are, as we speak, military personnel who are pre-transitioned transgender. There have been several cases where members, once leaving the ranks, sought transition. Many vets, of which performed in the most dangerous and hazardous duties and served honorably and with distinction.

That he-man super-soldier that you know... That person COULD be transgender while in uniform and is pretty much forbidden to reveal that fact. If their true status were to be revealed, it would irreparably destroy their lives and careers under the current policies, in spite of the end of DADT.

It should be of no surprise that Pvt. Manning revealed her own status as a transgender person after being convicted to 35 years in Federal Prison. Shoot, what ELSE can the military do to her?

Anyway, here's a vid that talks about the issue. Enjoy.

[bravenak]

1. I had no idea that transgender people were banned from serving.

We need to get our shit together fast. We can have rapists serve but not transgenger or transitioning folks? That's disgusting!
In my high school boys that were transitioning male to female used the girls bathroom and nobody raised an eyebrow. We used the same locker room. We are doing just fine and are not damaged by the experience. Maybe enlightened. Besides we like to share makeup and do each others hair. Not to be stereotypical but, they did it better, I learned lots of tricks.
The military could learn a lot from high schoolers.

[JackBeck]

2. Absolutely.

As well as a conversation about how transgender folks are treated in the prison system.