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Veterans Group Balks at Trans Member


TRANSGENDER AMERICAN VERTERANS ASSOCIATION X390 | ADVOCATE.COM

A Navy veteran is making waves with her transition from male to female, but her local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, of which she is a member, is stunned and making possibly discriminatory policies due to her change.

Laura Bush, formerly Larry Bush, who served 24 years in the Navy, has been a member of the General MacArthur Memorial VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach, Va., since last year, according to The Virginian-Pilot. There, she's made breakfasts, passed out gift bags at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and served as a chaplain.

She spoke with post commander Joe Brady, who allowed her to come to a meeting to speak about being transgender. However, when she arrived wearing a female dress uniform, the organization quickly reacted, making provisions to cancel her membership unless she makes her appearances dressed in male clothing until she undergoes gender-reassignment surgery or legally changes her name. She has begun taking steps for the latter process, and she hopes to begin hormone therapy soon.

She said the VFW means a lot to her, but argued that the organization does not have a dress code and is supposed to accept anyone with an honorable discharge from the armed forces.

The Transgender American Veterans Association estimates that there are about 300,000 transgender vets in the United States.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Jk
    Date posted: 5/25/2010 9:14:48 AM
    Hometown: NJ

    Comment:

    @ Davya, Living as a woman before you have surgery is part of the process. They should let her in now. 1.2% is very high for just Transsexuals, which this woman appears to be, but remember that "Transgendered" is a very large umbrella term that covers androgynous people and especially cross-dressers which is about 1% of the population at large.

  • Name: Davya
    Date posted: 5/25/2010 2:59:12 AM
    Hometown: Wynnewood, PA

    Comment:

    I don't think this is all that unreasonable. They will allow her a dress code that matches her identity when she has fully reached it- a mark of respect no doubt for her identity. However, she should explain to them that she needs to start living like a women during hormone treatment. I have a feeling they would understand- the average vet is particular.

  • Name: Barnaby
    Date posted: 5/24/2010 11:12:34 PM
    Hometown: Austin

    Comment:

    I always had my suspicions about Laura Bush, but did George know?

  • Name: Terri
    Date posted: 5/24/2010 7:49:58 PM
    Hometown: Charlevoix, MI

    Comment:

    In 2005 there were 24.5 million vets, and I doubt that number has decreased much since then. If 300,000 of those were transgendered, that would be a 1.2% incidence. Doesn't sound too unreasonable.

  • Name: Todd
    Date posted: 5/24/2010 7:29:08 PM
    Hometown: Minneapolis

    Comment:

    300,000 transgender vets in the United States? Seroulsly-is that figure correct? 30,000 maybe, but 300,000 seems outrageously inflated.

  • Name: Todd
    Date posted: 5/24/2010 7:28:43 PM
    Hometown: Minneapolis

    Comment:

    300,000 transgender vets in the United States? Seroulsly-is that figure correct? 30,000 maybe, but 300,000 seems outrageously inflated.

  • Name: Geoff
    Date posted: 5/24/2010 6:06:38 PM
    Hometown: Columbus, GA

    Comment:

    Living near Ft Benning, GA I donate to Vet groups from time to time. I'll have to reconsider that now that I see Vets turn their backs on one of their own.



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