Air Force policy change may give transgender airmen the chance to serve openly
SUMMARY
The Air Force took steps to relax the military's current stance on transgender men and women serving in uniform earlier this month, by requiring a higher authority to authorize discharges for enlisted transgender airmen and airmen who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to a news release.
Openly transgender Senior Airman Logan Ireland hopes that this decision will eventually allow transgender servicemen and women to serve openly without the risk of involuntary separation, despite the fact that the Air Force policy itself has not changed .
Ireland joined the Air Force as a woman in 2010, and was featured in "Transgender, at War and in Love," a documentary short exploring his relationship with fiancee and transgender soldier Laila Villanueva.
Ireland told Air Force Times:
"Day in and day out, you're constantly worried about a discharge...so every day when I put on my boots and strap on my gun and duty belt, I'm at risk for a discharge — and that's the least of my worries in my personal job. No one should have to worry about that day in and day out. "
For more, read the full article at AFT
Check out "Transgender, at War and in Love" below: