I commented briefly on this article on a share from Facebook, but this is a subject about which I know a great deal, and about which I feel quite passionate.
For a long time now I have followed a general principle of "don't ask, don't tell." Not the official military policy -- I don't think that someone's sexual preference is anyone's business, nor is it worthy of any special attention, either positive or negative. The same goes for gender identity and expression. Naturally, sexual orientation and gender identity variances are completely separate issues, but they share some of the same societal issues, such as stigmatization. It's not normal, statistically speaking, for someone to fall outside of tradtitonal gender identity. The Transgender Law & Policy Institute estimates that between two and five percent of the general population have some sort of gender identity issue. That's at maximum about 350 million people worldwide -- not a large number overall. However, for those who do suffer, it is a major issue. There is an ongoing debate in scientific circles over whether a person's gender identity is influenced more by biological or societal factors. That discussion is outside the scope of this post, and I've written more on the subject elsewhere. The Internet holds a vast resource of information on gender variance, and I urge you to research the subject for yourself if you wish to become more knowledgeable. For now, I will focus on the issues I encountered after I completed my transition to living full-time as a woman.
I don't "pass" well as a woman, possessing a male-pattern mesomorph physique and a more or less male facial configuration. The only clues people really get to my preferred gender are my voice, my style of dress, my modest-sized breasts, and the lack of visible "batch." As a result, folks are not quite sure what to make of me. Most, thankfully, say nothing. There are a few curious souls who will ask questions, and I always answer them truthfully. Curiosity should always be rewarded with knowledge. However, I never go out of my way to express the fact that I am transgendered. I leave others the option of ignoring it.
But then there are a very few who go out of their way to make it clear just how "cool" they are with my gender variance. This type of behavior always makes me feel uncomfortable. I am completely comfortable with my own identity, and depend not at all upon the opinions of others. As a result, I greet any special treatment -- whether positive or negative -- coldly. The only special treatment for which I have ever asked has been to not be forced to use the men's room at work. Fortunately, only at one place of employment have I suffered that indignity. Out of respect for those who lack understanding, I generally avoid communal lavatories, such as public restrooms, preferring single-occupant facilities. This is not always an option, but I make the effort, because I understand that not all people are as comfortable with the idea of gender variance as I am.
It is because I have this attitude that I am upset about the heavy-handed manner in which acceptance of homosexuality has been forced upon the military establishment in particular, and society in general. Any person's sexual preference should be no one's business except that person and any sexual partners they may have.
I would like to propose the following policy changes:
- Reinstate the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but modify it so that mere knowledge of a person's sexual orientation is not grounds for dismissal. If such knowledge is revealed, either accidentally or purposefully, and that knowledge creates any disruption within the unit to which the individual is assigned, the person should be eligible for reassignment similar to any other guidelines involving intraunit conflict. Sexual orientation should be treated exactly the same as religious preference, choice of reading materials, political views, etc.
- Any rules or guidelines governing romantic or sexual behavior between men and women within military structures should be applied in exactly the same manner to homosexuals.
- Any rules or guidelines governing other behaviors of military personnel should also be applied in exactly the same manner and penalties applied at exactly the same level of severity to all persons, regardless of any factors.
The point I'm trying to make is that homosexuals should not be treated any differently than heterosexuals. My favorite saying, generally in regards to public speaking but equally applicable to all aspects of social interaction, is "everyone has to sit on the can sooner or later." Another: "...to all the men upon this earth death cometh soon or late." And, more importantly:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.The course of action being pursued by the pro-gay lobby violates the unalienable rights of their opponents. The forced acceptance of homosexuality we are now seeing is in no way different from the forced oppression historically suffered by homosexuals. It is the same philosophy, enacted in opposite ways: tyranny. Opposition to tyranny is what formed these united States, and opposition to tyranny is what drives my every thought, word and action, as it drove our Founding Fathers. Colonel Crews has correctly pointed out the tyranny currently being espoused by the pro-gay lobby, and I applaud his forthrightness in regards to the subject. It is only through such free speech that tyranny, in ALL its forms, can be defeated.
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