Congrats Trans Folk, Obama To Let You Meet Interesting People And Kill Them!

As the old saying goes, "there are no transgenders in foxholes," but that might have to be updated very soon, to something like "sometimes there are transgenders in foxholes" (which isn't a good saying, really), because the AP is reporting that "Pentagon leaders are finalizing plans aimed at lifting the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military." Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed says the announcement could even come Tuesday! 

Senior U.S. officials say an announcement is expected this week. They say the military would have six months to determine the impact and work out details, with the presumption that they would end one of the last gender- or sexuality-based barriers to military service.

President Obama reportedly met with Defense Secretary Ash Carter on the subject last week, and they both agree that this is what they want to do, so wingnuts can add ONE MORE THING to the list of everything that happened to them during their terrible, horrible, no good, very bad summer.

So you mean that the simple fact that a person is transgender doesn't mean they're somehow unequipped to help the United States do all the war? Who knew? (Transgender people, many of whom have served in the military for AGES, but have had to hide it. They knew.)

This is good news, but don't all you trans people run to the recruiting office just yet, because the report says there will be no changes during that six month transition period. And look, it takes time to transition, you transgender people know that. (Oh do not even start on Twitter, it's a JOKE.)

And maybe that will give people who've been toying with the whole military idea some time to figure out whether they REALLY want to do it. First, move in with a bunch of your trans friends and put all your beds next to each other in one big room. Call each other "Private." Then learn to waterboard each other! It's just like trust falls, except for how you drown. And so on. This will be fun!

Of course, the part that sucks is that, since there are already trans people serving, they will still have to wait out that six months before being able to serve openly, or face the current consequences. But look, six months. It'll be over before you know it.

[ AP @ Huffington Post   via   The New Civil Rights Movement ]