Rick Fischer
Jul 28, 2017 · 1 min read

“When trans service members can serve openly and receive necessary medical treatment…”

I haven’t given this issue much thought, but this phrase struck me. Your story seems to argue in favor of the “don’t ask; don’t tell” policy. If thousands of trans have been serving with distinction, which is the claim being made, that too argues in favor of “don’t ask; don’t tell”.

But the phrase you used, quoted above, if made policy, would just result in the wholesale enlistment of trans people serving their enlistments to receive lengthy and costly free treatments and surgeries, and leaving the service when done.

What little I have read about this issue since Trump’s directive was only about meeting the needs of the trans individual — coming out, getting treatment, being accepted and the like. None of it has dealt with the predictable consequences and the unintended consequences.

The overwhelming purpose of our military is security. It is not a social welfare agency. It doesn’t exist as a vehicle to make trans people feel good about themselves. If you can argue how trans people can be melded into the military without any disruptions or special accommodations, and with no harm to unit cohesion, then make that case. We’ll listen.

Meanwhile, here’s another first person experience as a trans person, with a perspective on the issue.

Rick Fischer

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