DADT is dead! More or less. As dead as we're likely to be able to kill it, anyway, and with the support of leading politicians on all sides, the military brass, and the majority of military personnel. We should be dancing on it's sort-of-grave, right? A victory for LGB rights? A deeply-discriminatory, arguably unConstitutional law that affected one segment of our community has been repealed-ish?
I know I'm happy.
So why am I finding this in my email:
ENDA 2004 was a big one for highlighting this type of betrayal when gender identity was pulled out from the bill as "they couldn’t get the votes with trans in it" (Barney Franks and HRC).
This year, DADT 2010 is that betrayal. Claims by groups like GetEQUAL telling us that they came to late to the game to get the language changed in DADT to include gender identity and then advocating for a gay only bill just highlights their lack of commitment to equality principles. If gender identity wasn’t included – YOU DON"T SUPPORT IT. PERIOD. It’s called being opportunistic, lacking in basic equality principles and highly disrespectful Ms. McGehee. Get Equal showed us that their words means nothing. If push comes to shove, you can bet we’ll be shoved out of the bus again with this organization.
(from this group,
"Divorce Ceremony Plaintiff Gender Identity vs Defendant Sexual Orientation"
And why is this on Pam's House Blend:
This has me absolutely fuming. Once DADT has been repealed, Harvard University will reopen its campus to ROTC.
...
ROTC was banished from Harvard in the first place because the military was in violation of the university's non-discrimination policy. But guess what? Even with repeal of DADT the US military still continues to discriminate against transgender people, a clear violation of Harvard's policy:
Any form of discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to course requirements is contrary to the principles and policies of Harvard University.
Harvard shamefully reopens campus to ROTC while throwing transgender students under the bus
For the love of Christ, people. DADT is not, was never, and will never be a trans issue. It was from the beginning strictly a LGB issue. We (dons gay hat) are very thankful for the support of the many trans people who worked and campaigned for repeal. But we (dons trans hat) cannot expect to be bundled into every LGB victory.
The military justifies trans exclusion on medical grounds. We can't serve for the same reason someone with Type 1 diabetes or a history of major surgery or an intersex condition can't serve. This is purely a matter of military policy; it is not required under the law. DADT had no effect on trans people (other than restricting the sexuality of straight closeted trans people) and its repeal has no effect on us either (other than removing that restriction). It is not our (still wearing trans hat) issue, just as bathroom access is not a gay issue.
If we want the military to start allowing trans people to serve, the approach needs to be different. This goal could never have been bundled with DADT repeal. Attempting to do so would have guaranteed that the bill wouldn't even make it out of committee. Congress does not meddle in military medical standards.
And that's what this is: a medical standard. We're not disqualified for our gender identity. We're disqualified because of a medical diagnosis or medical history - right alongside intersex people, who by the way I don't see you "divorce the gays!" trans advocates mentioning. Anywhere.
And on the Harvard whining: Seriously? The military discriminates against people with practically every disability known to mankind, including quite a number that are less plausibly ROTC-class-related than transsexuality. It also discriminates based on age, gender, national origin, and (at last check) political beliefs. Why doesn't all that merit a mention? The original decision to kick ROTC out specifically because of DADT was ridiculous enough, given that the military is possibly the most discriminatory institution known to mankind and gays were hardly unique, but now picking on trans people as the reason they shouldn't be let back in? It's absurd. Either it's OK for ROTC to be on campus and discriminate in ways that other departments can't, or it's not.
"Divorce the LGB" people: You don't speak for me. I'm not joining your Facebook groups or signing your petitions. When you do things like this - when you whine and cry like petulant children because your brother got candy at a store that didn't sell anything you wanted - you are not helping. In fact, you are feeding the fire under the gays who want to "divorce the T."
Can we please just behave like adults and celebrate our victories and be happy for each other? We need each other for ENDA. And when we cry wolf about an imaginary "betrayal" now, who's going to listen if another actual betrayal happens on ENDA later?